For months, the Giants’ quarterback situation has dominated the discussion.
How long will Russell Wilson remain the starter?
How close is Jaxson Dart to being ready?
Where does Jameis Winston fit into the plan?
These are the questions head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen must answer as they attempt to balance winning now with preparing for the future.
But there are plenty of questions involving the Giants’ non-quarterbacks, too.
As the Giants begin a pivotal season, here are some of the other storylines going into Week 1 at Washington.
HOW HEALTHY IS MALIK NABERS?
Malik Nabers endured his share of injury concerns this offseason.
A toe injury that dates back to his college days at LSU kept the star wide receiver out of spring practices.
He left a July practice after a hard fall on his shoulder.
And a back issue prevented Nabers from appearing in preseason games and cost him nearly two weeks of practice, too.
But Nabers says the Giants were just playing it safe and that he will be “ready to roll” once the real games start. He described the back ailment as a “minor thing.”
“I feel good,” Nabers said Wednesday. “I know it’s been a little ride, but right now, I feel good.”
Nabers, 22, is the focal point of the Giants’ offense after recording 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie last season.
For all of the questions surrounding the Giants’ quarterback room, Nabers might be the most indispensable piece of an offense that — outside of fourth-round rookie running back Cam Skattebo — did not add a significant new skill-position player in the offseason.
“I think my teammates, they want me to voice my opinions,” Nabers said. “They feel like I’m a key factor on this football team … so [I am] just speaking out, trying to get the team going, or if I see anything, just saying something. That just goes to show how much my teammates believe in me.”
WHAT ABOUT DEXTER LAWRENCE AND ANDREW THOMAS?
It was a similarly sparse spring and summer for Lawrence, the Giants’ defensive anchor, who was limited throughout offseason practices as he worked back from the season-ending dislocated left elbow that he suffered on Nov. 28.
The star defensive tackle has been increasing his workload recently in anticipation of Week 1, but Lawrence was still getting into football shape as he sat out of all three preseason games.
“I’m where I’m supposed to be. That’s just what I can say about that,” Lawrence, 27, said on Aug 12. “It’s just a process of me and my elbow. It’s a continual process.”
Lawrence was a second-team All-Pro selection last season, when he recorded a career-high 9.0 sacks in 12 games.
There’s also uncertainty surrounding Thomas, the Giants’ standout left tackle, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 19 after undergoing surgery for a Lisfranc (midfoot) injury in October.
After passing his physical and returning to practice, Thomas couldn’t commit to playing in Week 1.
“I can’t really predict that right now,” Thomas, 26, said. “I just see the progress I’ve made the last few weeks. I don’t know where we’ll end up, but I’m doing everything I can do to be back.”
The Giants’ offensive line goes as Thomas does, making his availability paramount.
CAN ABDUL CARTER LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?
Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in April’s draft, earned rave reviews throughout the offseason, demonstrating his dominance as an edge rusher and an ability to line up at different positions.
That has allowed the Giants to dream about a dominant defensive front featuring Lawrence in the middle and linebackers Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux racing each other to the quarterback.
“Everybody has their job to do, so wherever I’m at, wherever I’m lined up, I’m doing my own job,” Carter said this month.
Historically, the Giants have been at their best when they employ a multitude of pass rushers, and that has a chance to become their identity once again.
And while Carter commands the most attention, he is one of several significant newcomers on a revamped defense that also added cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland on big-money contracts.
That new-look defense will be tested right away, with the Giants set to face the high-powered offenses of the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers in the first four weeks.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE NFC EAST?
The Commanders resolved their drawn-out offseason drama last week when they agreed to a three-year, $96 million contract extension with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, ending his hold-in.
But the Cowboys are yet to do the same with disgruntled pass rusher Micah Parsons, who requested a trade last month and has been holding in as he pursues a new deal.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Michael Irvin he offered Parsons a contract that “would’ve made him the highest-paid guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL.”
But the situation seems no closer to a resolution as the Cowboys near their season opener in Philadelphia on Thursday. The Giants are set to visit the Cowboys in Week 2.
That is the biggest NFC East storyline, especially as the Cowboys try to bounce back from a 7-10 season.
But there’s also the Philadelphia Eagles trying to repeat as Super Bowl champions and the Commanders aiming to take another step after quarterback Jayden Daniels led them to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie.
CAN THE GIANTS MAKE PROGRESS?
That’s ultimately the biggest question for a Giants team that went 3-14 last year and whose head coach and general manager could be on the hot seat.
Developing Dart is key, but co-owner John Mara made it clear that he wants to see present-day improvement, too, after back-to-back losing seasons.
As the Giants navigate that balancing act, the Jets are attempting a similar turnaround, albeit with much less attention.
Gone is Aaron Rodgers and everything that came with him, and here now is a new regime led by no-nonsense head coach Aaron Glenn.
The Jets feature a similar structure as the Giants, with a talent-laden defense and an ascendant No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson. Their new quarterback, Justin Fields, was a teammate of Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh last year.
It will be interesting to see which team that calls MetLife Stadium home makes greater strides in 2025.
