EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Malik Nabers, who missed practice the last two days with an ankle injury, said he has "no doubt" he will be ready for the Giants' Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Nabers became one of the team's most important offensive players the instant he was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. He left practice Sunday after turning his ankle and ventured out to the field to stretch and watch part of Tuesday's workout. He spoke to reporters afterward.
"I'm feeling good," Nabers said. "I don't think it's really nothing too serious, though. Just typical things that happen with the ankle when you play football, you play basketball. Nothing too serious.
"It feels good, getting back healthy. Just continuing with the rehab."
Coach Brian Daboll also said Nabers' injury is minor.
"He's good," Daboll said. "Well keep him down today. He'll go out there and do stretch, but he's good. He'll be good. It's not long term or anything like that."
Asked if the injury is a sprain, Daboll said, "I mean, he's got an ankle. It's nothing serious."
It is unknown if Nabers will play in the Giants' preseason game Saturday in Houston.
"Pretty cautious just to see how I feel, make sure I'm 100 percent," he said. "Make sure I'm able to practice at a high speed and play at full speed."
He said the ankle will not require extra support when he returns to the field.
Nabers was not hit on the play in which he was injured. He did not immediately leave the field.
"At first when I did it, it was no big deal," he said. "I went out, did another play, and then it was like, 'Nah, something just doesn't feel right.' So, I wanted to get it checked."
Moments later, Nabers said, "most definitely, yeah," when asked if he initially thought it was worse than it is. "But when I got the X-ray and MRI on it, nothing really showed up," he said.
Nabers later watched the tape to see exactly what occurred when he was injured.
"I really didn't know during practice until I watched the film," he said. "I watched the play that it happened, and I really didn't know what I did with my foot. And then when I watched it, I was like, 'Alright, cool, that's the reason why I'm feeling it.' But when I watched it again, how I watched it, to say that happened, and I don't feel really a lot going on right now, so it wasn't that bad of an injury. I'm just making sure I'm fine."
Nabers did not have a pass thrown to him on any of the 12 snaps he played in the Giants' preseason opener vs. Detroit. But he was pleased with his first NFL game experience.
"I played really good, played fast," he said. "Knew my route discipline, knew my alignment. But still things to work on. Had a few nick-ups. But that's what the preseason is for, just to get everything right before week one. So, I think I played pretty fast, got open pretty good. So, gave my coaches a lot of confidence."
If he doesn't play against the Texans, Nabers hopes to see action in the preseason finale against the Jets.
"It's a game rep," he said. "Every game opportunity rep that I have, of course I'm going to take advantage of it. But if that's what my coaches decide on it, that's what I decide on, then that's what's going to happen."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
*While Nabers' injury is relatively inconsequential, the outlook for another rookie, running back Tyrone Tracy, might not be as positive. The fifth-round draft choice from Purdue was injured in a kickoff drill when he reached down to pick up the ball and his right foot appeared to get caught in the grass.
Tracy rolled over on his back and was quickly surrounded by members of the team's medical staff, which put an air cast on his right leg before he was carted off the field.
The Giants announced after practice that Tracy "sustained an ankle injury and will be undergoing further imaging at HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) for a more comprehensive evaluation."
Tracy's injury leaves the Giants understaffed in the running backs room. Rookie free agent Dante "Turbo" Miller, who has had an impressive camp, did little in practice today because of a hamstring injury. That leaves starter Devin Singletary, second-year pro Eric Gray, and rookie Lorenzo Lingard – who joined the team yesterday – as the only healthy backs. Jacob Saylors, who was released to make room for Lingard, could conceivably be re-signed for the game in Houston.
The remaining running backs cringed at the site of Tracy requiring medical attention and needing aid to leave the field.
"Very difficult," Singletary said. "We put a lot into this. You can't really prevent injuries in this game. It's a 100 percent injury rate, but you always hate to see one of your brothers go down. We don't know exactly what's going on, but we hate to see him go down."
"It's difficult for anybody," said Gray, who will presumably shoulder a larger workload in Tracy's absence. "Definitely prayers out to him and his family. Hopefully he's okay."
Tracy has been the Giants' No. 2 running back throughout training camp. He started against Detroit and rushed for 26 yards on five carries. Coach Brian Daboll praised Tracy in his pre-practice news conference about an hour before the young back was hurt.
"I think he's done a good job of really picking up all the little nuances, the protections, the identifications, the route concepts, the alignments," Daboll said. "He's a smart player. I'm glad we got him."
Tracy played wide receiver for four seasons at Iowa and one at Purdue before switching to running back in his final season with the Boilermakers. Daboll said playing his former position helps him produce in his new spot.
"I think the instinctiveness of route running, that certainly helps," Daboll said. "You can have the lines on the paper, but he has some pretty good feel for zone awareness, how to set guys up in man (coverage). I think that playing receiver has helped him in that area. … He's done well for a young player that's just entered into our program."
*Center John Michael Schmitz took team reps for the first time since he injured his shoulder early in camp, and tackle Evan Neal made his summer debut in team drills.
"It's a limited amount of reps," Daboll said. "Ramping them up, but it is good to get them out there in team drills."
Neal took his first snaps of camp, at right tackle with the second team. He passed his physical Sunday after spending the first two weeks of camp rehabilitating his surgically repaired ankle.
*Guard Jon Runyan did not practice after injuring his shoulder yesterday. "Nothing serious, but we'll just give him a day here," Daboll said.
With Runyan sidelined, the first team guards were Greg Van Roten (right) and Aaron Stinnie (left).
*Tight end Lawrence Cager hurt his groin yesterday and "is going to be down for a little while here," Daboll said. Cager was undergoing more tests today.
*Rookie cornerback Dru Philips missed another day of practice with an ankle injury.
*Regarding quarterback Daniel Jones, Daboll said, "If everything goes as planned, I anticipate him playing (in Houston) and it'll be good for him."
How much will the starters play?
"Not there yet," Daboll said.
*Daboll said backup quarterback Drew Lock might be able to play in Houston. Lock missed his third consecutive practice with an oblique injury he suffered vs. the Lions.
"I think we might be able to use Drew here if we need him," Daboll said. "He's gotten a lot better here these last few days. I envision Tommy (DeVito) being the next guy in based on Drew's injury, for this game. I think Drew has a chance to go ahead and suit up and if we need him to go in, (he'll) be able to do that."
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