Feb. 7, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ET

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers provided an encouraging update on his recovery from a season-ending knee injury, telling ESPN’s Jordan Raanan that his rehabilitation is progressing “phenomenal.”

The standout rookie suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in Week 4 of the 2025 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, undergoing surgery in late October that included a full meniscus repair alongside ACL reconstruction.

The more extensive meniscus procedure, rather than a trim, has contributed to a slightly extended timeline, explaining Nabers’ use of crutches and a brace into late last year.

Despite earlier concerns from sports medicine experts suggesting he might not be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign — potentially starting on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list — Nabers’ positive outlook signals strong momentum.

In January, Giants general manager Joe Schoen noted Nabers was “trending to hopefully be ready for training camp,” though he cautioned that timelines can shift.

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The optimistic rehab report comes amid the Giants’ transition under new head coach John Harbaugh, who has already praised Nabers’ work ethic and excitement during phone conversations.