Giants GM Joe Schoen Optimistic Malik Nabers Can Return for Week 1 After ACL/Meniscus Rehab

The New York Giants are indicating confidence that wide receiver Malik Nabers can return for the start of the regular season even though he is still working through the aftermath of a knee injury and additional surgery. Pro Football Rumors reported on Tuesday that Giants general manager Joe Schoen remains optimistic about Nabers being available for Week 1.

According to the report, Nabers suffered a torn ACL and meniscus last September, an injury that typically requires significant time and careful rehab before a receiver is asked to return to cutting, acceleration, and full-speed routes. The rehab process, the report says, proved more difficult than expected, culminating in a second surgery described as a cleanup procedure in mid-April.

As of early June, Nabers has not returned to team activity in the report’s telling. Even so, Giants “bigwigs” are described as optimistic, with the Week 1 target tied to the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13. While optimism does not guarantee availability, it provides the clearest timeline New York has publicly aligned itself with regarding its top receiver.

Nabers’ presence matters to the Giants because he is their No. 1 option in the passing game, the kind of receiver who influences coverage decisions and route spacing. For a quarterback, a healthy No. 1 wideout also changes the playbook from game to game, not only because of targets, but because timing routes and deep concepts often require continuity.

The report also reflects a reality teams face after multi-procedure recoveries: the medical calendar can be complicated, and teams sometimes push for readiness even if it means a careful ramp-up once a player is cleared. ACL recoveries are not linear, and meniscus involvement can add additional uncertainty, particularly for a position built on sharp change-of-direction and high-volume route running.

If Nabers is indeed ready by the opener, it would reduce the burden on New York’s depth chart and help stabilize the passing attack during a stretch when opponents will have prepared their game plans without assuming the same receiving profile as a fully available No. 1. If he is not ready, the Giants would likely need to lean more heavily on other options earlier than expected, along with the supporting cast that fills the intermediate areas and boundary work.

For fans, the key next checkpoint is not just whether Nabers is “cleared,” but whether his workload and practice participation progress in a way consistent with a Week 1 return. The Giants’ own statements, as reflected in the report, suggest they believe he can get there, but late-summer health management will remain the deciding factor. The season opener against Dallas will be the first true test of that plan.

confidence-building coverage will likely follow from the team once practices ramp up, because quarterbacks and receivers need synchrony. Even if Nabers returns, the team’s approach to snaps, conditioning, and route volume could provide the most concrete indication of how close he is to full effectiveness. Until then, New York’s expectation remains that Nabers can contribute from the jump, despite a recovery that required more than one operation.