New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is progressing well in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last season. Nabers practiced throughout training camp, though he did not play in preseason games. The question now is whether the 23-year-old will be available when the Giants open the 2026 regular season against the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football.”

While Nabers appears optimistic about where he stands physically, it remains unclear if he will suit up against Dallas. The second-year receiver offered an honest assessment of his status.

“I feel pretty good,” Nabers said. “I feel real good, to be honest. Like I said, you’re going to feel good, but there are still some things that you’re going to have to check off the box for you to participate. So I’m going through that, still listening to the trainer, still listening to doctors and sharing everything with them.”

Confidence in the process, but with patience

Nabers expressed confidence about eventually returning to his pre-injury form, though the timeline remains uncertain.

“Will it take him some time? Who knows,” Nabers added. “But I know for sure if I’m out there, I’m going to run some routes.”

The Giants play Dallas on Sept. 13, giving Nabers roughly two weeks before the opener. His focus, however, is not locked on that specific game. Instead, the wide receiver is thinking about the full regular season and making sure he can sustain a complete workload.

“My mind is focused on playing the regular season,” Nabers explained. “Playing whenever that is, playing whatever team that is. I’m going to be making sure that I’m ready to go out there and I’m healthy enough to play all four quarters. So the main focus is just trying to be out there as much as I can.”

The right approach for a young star

Rather than prioritizing a single NFC East matchup, Nabers is fairly taking the long view about his career and his ability to help the Giants across a full 17-game season.

As a rookie, Nabers played 15 games with 109 catches, 1,204 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Last season, the ACL tear limited him to just four games, during which he recorded 271 yards and two touchdowns.

Without Nabers, the Giants have real questions at wide receiver. The other players at the position on the 53-man roster are Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Odell Beckham Jr., and third-round rookie Malachi Fields. That group can hold down the position for a stretch, but getting Nabers back at full strength is critical for New York’s offensive ceiling.

The key, though, is avoiding a rush job. Pushing Nabers back too early would serve nobody’s interests. He will take his time through the process, and whether that means a Week 1 return against Dallas or a debut later in September remains to be determined.