Malik Nabers takes another recovery step, gives Giants reason to believe he could play Week 1 vs. Cowboys

The New York Giants’ season-opening week just got more complicated, and more hopeful. Wide receiver Malik Nabers took another step forward in his recovery from a torn ACL, shedding his red jersey during Monday’s practice and taking part in team drills, according to Giants head coach John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh said it is “reasonable” to think Nabers has a chance to play in the Giants’ Sept. 13 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. For a team trying to blend continuity on offense with a clean early-season rhythm, having a lead target like Nabers available even partially can change how the passing game is built and protected in the first game of the year.

Nabers’ progression is still being managed week to week, and the red jersey itself is typically used as a visual cue that a player is not at full go status. Monday’s work, however, suggests the Giants are closer to integrating him into standard team tempo rather than limiting him to separate routines.

The Giants’ offense has been anchored around playmaking from the perimeter, and Nabers has been one of the league’s more dynamic receivers when healthy. Even a return that is measured in reps can raise the value of vertical concepts, stress coverage shells, and help shorten third-down distances if quarterback timing is established early in the opener.

The matchup with Dallas adds urgency to the timeline. The Cowboys’ defense is known for pressing disguise and forcing answers, which makes receiver availability and precise route timing particularly important in Week 1. If Nabers is active, the Giants will likely prioritize his role in early downs first, then expand his involvement if practice load and in-game snap count align with the recovery plan.

Nabers’ return path has been defined by controlled participation, and the Giants’ decision-making will likely remain incremental. Harbaugh’s comment does not guarantee a full workload, but it does indicate New York believes the probability of game availability has improved enough to be discussed openly with the team and media.

For Giants fans, the next checkpoints are straightforward: how Nabers handles subsequent practices without a red jersey, how his workload is monitored through the week, and whether the team treats him as a full participant in meetings and drills. If that pattern continues, the Sept. 13 Cowboys game could become a major morale and offensive-planning turning point for New York.