Malik Nabers’ season is over.
An MRI confirmed Monday that the Giants’ top receiver tore the ACL in his right knee during the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers. ESPN first reported the news.
His loss is a devastating blow for the Giants (1-3) and for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who now must play his first NFL season without the team’s best weapon.
“Malik’s one-of-one,” Dart said after Sunday’s win. “So when you have a guy like that on the field, you have all the confidence in the world that he can just be a dominant game-changer.
“But I thought from that moment, obviously it’s really hard seeing one of your best friends go down, but we were able to rally,” the quarterback added. “I thought guys made some good plays. But obviously, just prayers to him.”
Nabers, 22, set the Giants’ single-season franchise record with 109 receptions as a rookie last season on an absurd 170 targets. That snapped Steve Smith’s former Giants record of 107 catches in 2009.
His 109 catches are the second-most receptions by any rookie in NFL history behind only fellow 2024 rookie Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (112).
Nabers also racked up 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season. That marked the ninth-highest receiving yardage total in Giants history and the second most for a Giants rookie behind only Odell Beckham Jr. (1,305 yards in 2014).
But Nabers’ second NFL season now crashes to an early end with 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He made nine catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow Week 2 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Now the Giants must pivot and find solutions without him.
Right now that means giving 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt an opportunity to fill the void alongside veteran Darius Slayton and 2022 second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson.
Veteran Lil’ Jordan Humphrey also could be an option off the practice squad. He played plenty with Dart during the preseason and even caught a touchdown pass from Dart in the quarterback’s preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills.
If Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll want to go outside the building and trade for a receiver, there are also some names to keep an eye on, starting with one they will face this weekend in New Orleans: Saints wideout Chris Olave.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
