Nabers Misses Giants Practice; Week 4 Status Murky as Dart Prepares for First Start
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers sat out Wednesday’s session with a right-shoulder injury, leaving his availability for Week 4 against the Chargers in doubt as Jaxson Dart readies for his first start in New York.
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers missed practice Wednesday with a right-shoulder injury that could jeopardize his availability for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving Week 4 status unclear.
The shoulder issue appears linked to a failed acrobatic catch in last week’s game against Kansas City, when Nabers crash-landed in the end zone after leaving his feet. He has also been managing a back and toe soreness, and he did not practice again on Wednesday. With Nabers sidelined, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to play Sunday against the Chargers. Coach Brian Daboll said decisions would be made closer to kickoff as the team evaluates the latest developments. Nabers will be counted on to help quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is set to make his first start for the Giants after the club benched Russell Wilson.
Dart will be the sixth quarterback Nabers has caught passes from over the first 19 games of his career. The combined lack of on-field reps between Nabers and Dart — with Nabers missing spring practice and Dart seeing limited starter reps during training camp — has made it harder for the two to build a quick, on-field rapport. Still, Nabers said he plans to support his quarterback and focus on running routes and catching the ball, regardless of who is under center, and that his job is to contribute on Sundays.
Nabers noted that he and Dart have studied film from Dart’s Ole Miss days, with the deep-ball connection standing out as a particular area to watch. He added that he is excited to see Dart play and that he would support him in any way possible, including staying engaged in practice and helping the rest of the receiving corps adjust to the rotation. The expectation is that Nabers would be a frequent target if he is active, giving Dart a familiar option to lean on.
The rest of the Giants’ injury report includes kicker Graham Gano (groin), who was ruled out for Sunday after gutting through one field-goal attempt last week; Theo Johnson (toe); Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot); Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder); and a group of players listed as limited or out on Wednesday, including Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), Chauncey Golston (ankle), Art Green (hip), Darius Muasau (concussion), John Michael Schmitz Jr. (neck), Darius Slayton (calf) and Andrew Thomas (foot). Daboll said Gano’s absence will prompt a competition between Younghoe Koo, who signed with the Giants on Tuesday, and Jude McAtamney for a potential practice-squad elevation to handle kicking duties against the Chargers.
As Week 4 approaches, the Giants must balance Nabers’s health and Dart’s readiness with the goal of maintaining an effective pass game. Nabers reiterated that his decision to play will come down to the medical staff’s evaluation and his own preparation, but he emphasized his commitment to contributing regardless of the quarterback and the eventual game-day plan. The quarterback-receiver dynamic remains a central storyline as New York prepares for a matchup that could test a young offense in a challenging division scenario.
If Nabers does play, his ability to contribute could be a critical factor in helping Dart develop chemistry quickly with a former Ole Miss teammate who has repeatedly shown the ability to create separation and make contested catches. If Nabers cannot go, the Giants will need other receivers to step up and provide a reliable target for a quarterback still acclimating to the starting role in New York. The Chargers present a defense that will test the Giants' growth arc early in the season, making Nabers’s health an important variable in Sunday’s game plan.
