It’s been one month since New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers tore his ACL in a game earlier this season and the star receiver has still not undergone reconstructive surgery.
“Some players will have a very significant amount of swelling after this injury and operating on them right away can actually lead to significant stiffness down the line because it’s an additional trauma to the knee – even though it’s being done for good,” Dr. Guillem Gonzalez-Lomas, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, told The NY Post.
“It actually ends up speeding up recovery to wait until the knee is very quiet – not a lot of swelling and range of motion is essentially full, when the knee feels almost normal other than the instability through the ACL. It sounds counterintuitive, but in the long run it limits the risk for complications related to the surgery.”
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Malik Nabers #1 of the New York Giants reacts after being injured against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on September 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Doctors Point to Saquon Barkley as Similar Injury to Malik Nabers
According to The Athletic, Nabers also sustained a partial meniscus tear along with his ACL injury.
Former Giants standout Saquon Barkley, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, endured a similar setback in 2020 — tearing both his ACL and meniscus, and spraining his MCL — but ultimately made a full return to elite form.
“It’s very common to sustain a meniscus tear in addition to the ACL tear,” said Gonzalez-Lomas, who has not treated Nabers. “If it just needs to be trimmed, it doesn’t add much to the complexity. If you add the meniscus repair, you are going to have to add a little more restriction to the post-operative course.
“The athlete would not be able to put full weight on the knee for 4-6 weeks – up to eight depending on the tear. If they can’t put full weight on it, they would be a little further behind the 8-ball in terms of ACL recovery. Usually over the first two months, even if you repair the meniscus, the knee catches up to where it would’ve been.”
It’s still not clear when Nabers will return to the field. Those optimistic say training camp, but others say he will miss some of the 2026 season.
“The typical return to play for an ACL injury is about 9-12 months,” Gonzalez-Lomas said. “You’d really be right at the beginning of the window. I think he would be back to doing training on the field. Whether or not he is ready to actually play in July or the next few months is still up in the air.”
Cam Skattebo Disclosed Ankle and Had Surgery Same Day
Rookie running back sensation Cam Skattebo dislocated his ankle in Sunday’s game against the Eagles and underwent emergency surgery at a Philadelphia hospital. He’s expected to be ready in time for the 2026 training camp.
Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen may have bought themselves another year with the selections of Skattebo and quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose play has injected new energy into the Meadowlands. Along with Nabers, a fully healthy Giants squad could be one to watch in 2026. For now, though, the team sits at 2-6 and will host the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.
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