Malik Nabers, who was limited to four games in 2025 due to an ACL injury, is approaching the upcoming season with a determination to surpass his impressive rookie year statistics. In his first season, Nabers recorded 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, validating his status as the sixth overall pick in the NFL draft.
"I’ve got extreme confidence in myself, and I’m not going to put myself in any spot that I feel like I’m not going to be better than what I was before," Nabers said Thursday at Giants training camp. "I don’t see myself being what I was before. What I was before, what y’all saw my rookie year, I feel like that was basic."
Nabers described his rookie season production as "basic," indicating he believes he left potential performance on the field and missed opportunities due to injury. He shared that his recovery from surgery to repair a torn right ACL is progressing well, evidenced by his participation in individual drills and non-contact offensive team work at camp. He has been running and cutting for weeks, and a subsequent clean-up procedure earlier than previously reported may have contributed to his ability to avoid the physically unable to perform list.
Nabers, who turned 23 this week, appeared at ease and smiled frequently while speaking with the media. He acknowledged the importance of being back on the field with his teammates, noting, "It felt good to be out there with the guys, get a couple throws, just move around."
While there is no definitive target date for his return to full play, Nabers is focused on a day-by-day approach. "Mindset is just stacking days, trying to get back out there with my teammates," he said. "If I can just keep on stacking days with the training staff and they continue to see improvements on my body, continue to see improvements on my knee and where I’m at, it’s just giving me more confidence to go out there and be able to play."
The rehabilitation process presented a mental challenge for Nabers, who described it as his first significant "mental battle." He emphasized the importance of surrounding himself with positive influences, including friends and family, to navigate the difficulties of not seeing immediate progress. "But just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is that everyday process is just thinking that you’re going to get better and believing that you want to get better," he stated.
