The New York Giants nearly had their season opener thrown into chaos when wide receiver Malik Nabers showed up on Friday’s injury report with back tightness. The Pro Bowl pass-catcher sat out practice, immediately sparking questions about whether he’d be available for Sunday’s divisional showdown against the Washington Commanders.
For Giants fans and plenty of fantasy football managers, it was a tense few hours. Nabers, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft out of LSU, became the team’s go-to weapon as a rookie, racking up 109 receptions, 1,204 yards, and seven touchdowns. Losing him, even briefly, would have been a massive setback.
Fortunately, the panic didn’t last long. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Nabers isn’t carrying an injury designation and is expected to play in the Week 1 matchup. That update eased concerns but also reminded everyone just how critical Nabers is to New York’s offense.
Back tightness raises concerns for New York’s breakout wideout
This year could be even bigger for him. The Giants overhauled their quarterback room, moving on from Daniel Jones and bringing in veteran Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson, along with Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart. Wilson has the starting job, and early signs suggest he and Nabers could form one of the NFC’s most dangerous duos.
MORE: How many yards did Saquon Barkley in week one?
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on Fox, with Nabers now locked in as the player to watch when the Giants begin their 2025 campaign.
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