Malik Nabers walked off Tuesday’s practice field slowly with his left shoulder hanging limp, followed trainers inside and did not return.
Fortunately, it sounds like Nabers dodged a worst-case injury. He landed on his shoulder on a running play, sources said, but the Giants weren’t overly concerned about Nabers after their initial examinations.
Whether it’s a mild stinger, a bruise or soreness, that’s a relief. This team would not survive his absence.
Nabers’ injury provided an important reminder, though, of just how urgent it seems for the Giants to add reinforcements at receiver.
Behind Nabers and Darius Slayton, starting slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson sat out team drills for a second straight day. And top reserve Jalin Hyatt missed his fourth straight practice.
So Russell Wilson took the field the rest of practice with Slayton and undrafted rookie Beaux Collins on the outsides and either Ihmir Smith-Marsette or undrafted rookie Dylan Cambre in the slot.
Collins has had a strong offseason. He has some talent and might work his way into a contributing role.
If the Giants are being honest about their receiver room, however, they know they need more proven and higher end talent on this depth chart.
That’s why they hosted veteran Gabe Davis on a free agent visit back in May, and it’s why signing Davis as the calendar turns to August makes a lot of sense now.
Davis said he is about 80% or more recovered from last November’s meniscus injury on the “Up & Adams” podcast last week.
He knows Brian Daboll’s offense well from their time together in Buffalo. So he could assimilate quicker into New York’s scheme than most players this late in the offseason.
“[Daboll] is the man,” Davis said on the podcast. “You gotta think [Daboll] was the OC when I was doing all that. [Daboll] was definitely a big part of reason why I had success.”
Davis averaged 16.7 yards per catch from 2020-23 on Josh Allen’s Bills offense. And most famously he recorded eight catches, 201 yards and four touchdowns with Daboll and Allen in the playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs in January 2022.
Then there is what happened when Davis visited the Giants. He said Wilson joined the Giants’ welcome party that took Davis to dinner, and that meant a lot to him.
“Russ came to dinner, that was dope to have Russell Wilson there,” Davis said. “That was pretty sick. He’s a legend. It was good. We had a good dinner, a good night.”
He could see him and Wilson being a good fit given their skill sets.
“That’s me and Russ’ game for sure,” he said. “I’m definitely a deep ball threat, and Russ knows how to sling it downfield. Something I’ve looked into, for sure.”
Davis, 26, has other options and interested suitors, like the San Francisco 49ers. He is still rehabbing. But he said he’s ahead of schedule working at The Draft Academy in Winter Park, Fla., feeling strong at the 7.5-month mark after being given a 9-10-month timetable.
“It’s getting there,” Davis said.
Ideally, Hyatt would return to the field healthy and have a strong camp to make a Davis signing more of a luxury than a necessity. Right now, though, the Giants’ receiver depth chart is screaming for more reliability and game-ready talent that can help Wilson stretch the field.
Davis could be that player.
GOING EASY ON DEXTER
Giants’ star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence sat out team drills on Tuesday and looked like he was doing conditioning on a side field. It’s the second straight day Lawrence has been limited or out entirely from the 11-on-11 period of practice. That’s something to watch. The Giants need Lawrence game-ready and at his best when the season starts. … Rookie running back Cam Skattebo also did no team work one day after carrying a heavy practice load in the running game. It will become clearer on Thursday, after the team’s off day Wednesday, how Skattebo will bounce back. … Defensive tackle D.J. Davidson injured his right leg and hobbled off. That’s the second time in three days Davidson had gotten banged up. He’d grabbed at his left hamstring in a previous practice. … Corner Tre Hawkins was not on the field at all after getting nicked up the day before. … Starting safety Tyler Nubin went down after a play, and trainers were looking at his ribs while he laid on the ground. Nubin returned to the 11-on-11 team drills after that, but then K’Von Wallace replaced him for the final snap against the starting offense. … Rookie QB Jaxson Dart threw a nice back shoulder touchdown on Tuesday to wide receiver Lil’ Jordan Humphrey while running the second-team offense. … Daboll yo-yo’d the team’s four quarterbacks in and out at an unusual pace during the team’s sixth practice. It seemed difficult for any of them to develop any consistency or comfort.
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