Malik Nabers has been sidelined for a nerve-wracking amount of time during the preseason, and there have not been many injury updates from head coach Brian Daboll and the New York Giants ahead of Week 1.
ESPN NYG beat reporter and insider Jordan Raanan relayed what he’s been hearing about Nabers’ Week 1 status while speaking on the “Breaking Big Blue” and “Giants Nation Show” joint podcast on August 18.
“I mentioned something about this, I believe in last week’s show, that he had a minor injury that wasn’t related to the toe,” Raanan told co-host Bobby Skinner, referencing his August 17 article, which revealed that Nabers is dealing with a “minor back injury” and “normal camp tightness.”
“From what I understand, to me, it seems like it’s not something that anyone’s really overly worried about,” the ESPN reporter continued. “But, at the same time, it is a back [injury], so back injuries sometimes make you a little leery.”
Raanan went on to explain that it seems like the Giants would rather play it safe with Nabers, rather than risk him aggravating an injury during training camp or the preseason. He also pointed out that if Nabers was really hurting from a back injury, why would he spend the entire preseason outing standing on the sidelines?
“There’s always a chance [Nabers misses Week 1],” Raanan finally admitted, after Skinner asked him point blank if he thinks the wide receiver could be sidelined for the opener. “But, just from what I’ve been told, it’s not anything that [should keep him out].”
The Giants insider concluded that “something would have to happen at this point, I think, for it to get worse, in order for [Nabers] not to be ready for Week 1.”
Latest Injury Update on Giants WR Malik Nabers Before Preseason Finale
In case you missed it, Raanan published a more formal injury update on Nabers on August 17, as noted above.
“New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers hasn’t practiced in 11 days while dealing with what multiple sources told ESPN was a minor back problem. One source characterized it as ‘normal camp tightness,’” Raanan began the report.
“At this point it would seem logical for Nabers to miss the entire preseason,” the Giants beat reporter continued later. “The regular season opens in three weeks. That should be enough time for Nabers to get ready for the Washington Commanders and the grueling early-season schedule that follows, in part because the Giants appear to be bringing him back slowly. There is no reason to rush their most explosive offensive player onto the field for the preseason.”
“The Giants are handling the situation with caution considering how important Nabers is to their offense,” Raanan added before discussing other injuries. “He also missed the spring with a toe injury and left a practice earlier this summer after landing on a shoulder.”
Andrew Thomas Injury Updates From Giants Are ‘Positive’ Ahead of Week 1
GettyThere was a new injury update on New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas was the other integral starter that Raanan discussed on the podcast.
“Also, Andrew Thomas seems to still be trending towards Week 1,” Raanan said on Monday. “We’ll see if he comes back, but all I’ve heard on that [injury] is positive things so far.”
Raanan didn’t have an exact answer for when Thomas might be activated off the PUP list but stated that it “seems like it’s going to be sooner rather than later.”
The veteran beat reporter acknowledged that there is still more concern about Thomas than Nabers, being that the starting left tackle has yet to take the practice field this summer.
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