Giants receiver Malik Nabers returns to live drills as ACL recovery reaches a new milestone

The New York Giants got a long-awaited look at Malik Nabers moving through live team work for the first time this summer. According to Yahoo Sports, Nabers participated in live 11-on-11 drills on Monday and also worked in 7-on-7 periods, a shift that represents more than just light conditioning as the team builds toward the next phase of training camp.

Nabers’ return to live repetitions matters because his absence last season came at a major juncture. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 season, and the recovery has required careful ramp-up toward contact-level practice. Live 11-on-11 is typically a step toward game-structured coverage looks, timing routes, and full-speed execution that goes beyond individual drills.

For a Giants offense, Nabers is the kind of player teams design their passing game around. That is not only due to his role as a boundary-to-interior target, but because his route-running and ability to separate translate into quarterback rhythm, third-down efficiency, and red-zone creation. Even without reading into specific practice outcomes, any increment in live practice participation can affect how coaches build their offensive tempo and package decisions.

The details reported Monday point to an incremental plan rather than a sudden return to full workload. The report framed the session as Nabers participating in live work for the first time that summer, including both 11-on-11 and 7-on-7. That combination suggests he is being evaluated in different live formats, with 7-on-7 often used to emphasize route concepts and quick throws, while 11-on-11 adds the full discipline of protection, spacing, and defensive matchups.

This kind of milestone is also a reminder of how ACL recoveries are managed in the NFL. Teams often proceed through staged progression, with the medical staff weighing muscle control, stability, and the ability to accelerate and decelerate without compensations. Live drills are meaningful because they test those elements under higher intensity and more chaotic movement than controlled individual work.

There is still a wide gap between a first live 11-on-11 participation and a guaranteed path to full availability. The Giants will likely continue to monitor Nabers’ workload, the number of reps he takes, and how he responds later in the day and across consecutive practices. Camp plans commonly adjust based on how players absorb volume, and wide receivers returning from ACL injuries can be particularly sensitive to landing mechanics and route-ending cuts.

What to watch next is whether Nabers’ participation expands beyond “first time this summer” to sustained involvement across subsequent sessions. If he continues to take reps in live team settings, the Giants can more confidently integrate his route timing into standard third-down and two-minute looks. For fans, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: the recovery is advancing into a practice environment that more closely resembles game conditions.