Malik Nabers Sheds the Red Jersey, but Harbaugh Won't Guarantee Receiver's Status for Week 1

The Giants receiver can now partake in full-contact drills for the first time since his injury, though Harbaugh remains unwilling to make any promises yet about Week 1.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers took another big step forward in his return from an ACL. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

One gets the feeling that the New York Giants know it’s going to happen: that receiver Malik Nabers will indeed be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, especially after the receiver took the next step in his return by shedding the red “no-contact” jersey after wearing it last week and participating in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills.  

Malik Nabers with the white jersey at practice today pic.twitter.com/2GRssvh3Vk

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 24, 2026

But head coach John Harbaugh stopped short of declaring Nabers’s readiness for the start of the regular season, which will be here in a little under four weeks.

“I don’t want to make any kind of statements like that,” Harbaugh said when asked if Nabers was trending toward being ready for Week 1 of the season, barring any setbacks.

“I think it’s reasonable to assume that. Those are all things to assume based on watching him practice. The only thing I know more than you guys do is what the trainers and doctors tell me about his rehab, and he’s doing really well with it. He’s strong, in a good place. How he gets through practice and how ready he is to play and protect himself is really based on practice.”  

Nabers will obviously need to take some hits during practice as the next step in his return, which he didn’t do during Monday’s shorts and shells practice.

Come Tuesday, when the Giants are next scheduled to be in pads, it’s anticipated he’ll get to experience live contact (although not tackling to the ground) for the first time in a practice.

"It'll be a protect each other kind of deal, but that'll be true for everybody right now,” he said. “We'll be in this mode this week; we'll be a little more, as far as the contact part of it, probably a little more in-season-ish in terms of taking care of one another.”  

Despite Harbaugh’s reluctance to make a definitive statement about Nabers, it’s not hard to get excited about the increasing likelihood of the third-year receiver being ready for Sunday Night Football against the Cowboys.

“I thought he looked good,” Harbaugh said. “He was moving well–probably moving the best we've seen him look. It was a good practice for him today. Got the red shirt off. That was a good step.”

Giants’ Leadership Council Revealed

New York Giants tight end Chris Manhertz is among the eight-man Giants leadership council. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The players have apparently voted on the Giants' new leadership council, and eight guys were identified as part of that group: quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston, outside linebacker Brian Burns, safety Jevon Holland, inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, left tackle Andrew Thomas, tight end Chris Manhertz, and punter Jordan Stout.

The group was spotted speaking with Harbaugh about what the coach described as logistical matters after the team concluded practice. It’s unclear, though, if those eight players are also viewed as the team captains.

“We've been doing it for a long time,” Harbaugh said of having a leadership group. “I do try to emphasize to the team that everybody's a leader and everybody has every opportunity to speak their mind. Talk to anybody in the organization about anything they need to, any suggestions they have.”

Besides the team leadership being defined, what’s also noteworthy about this development is that Manhertz, who some may have thought was in danger of losing his roster spot, appears to be safe for the coming season; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been part of the discussion.

Injury Updates

Receiver Jalin Hyatt (ankle/leg), offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu (leg), tight end Tanner Conner (unknown), receiver Braxton Berrios (soft tissue), guard Francis Mauigoa (stinger), right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (unknown), defensive lineman Shelby Harris (unknown), and linebacker Jack Kelly (unknown) did not practice.

Harbaugh said that Eluemunor will be fine and “should be back tomorrow (Tuesday),” as should Mauigoa.

Cornerback Colton Hood (quad) returned to practice.

Tight end Theo Johnson collided with outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux during practice and appeared shaken up. “I think he's okay,” Harbaugh said. “Didn't get a report back that it was serious, but they'll look at it. I haven't talked to him since, so I'll go in and find out here when we get done.” 

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