Giants' Malik Nabers suffers hip flexor injury, doesn't practice Friday
Malik Nabers of the Giants runs the ball against DaRon Bland and Eric Kendricks of the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 28 in Arlington, Texas. Credit: Getty Images/Sam Hodde
Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers didn’t practice on Friday but still has a chance to play on Sunday.
Nabers suffered a hip flexor injury during Thursday’s practice that kept him sidelined during the final full workout of the week. He was listed as questionable on the official injury designation announced on Friday afternoon. The Giants will host the Saints on Sunday.
“Hopeful he’ll be ready to play,” coach Brian Daboll said, “but I can’t say he will be or not.”
Nabers leads the team with 75 catches for 740 yards and three touchdowns. He is on pace to break the NFL record for most receptions in a season by a rookie.
He already has missed two games with a concussion earlier this season and has been limited in previous practices with a nagging groin injury, but Daboll said this injury is separate from those and occurred during one-on-one drills on Thursday. Nabers underwent an MRI at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan on Friday morning and returned to the team’s facility before the start of the day’s on-field practice. He spent that time in the training room with the medical staff.
His is the latest in a litany of injuries that have hit the Giants in the days since they were eliminated from postseason contention with last week’s loss to the Cowboys. Since then, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and rookie tight end Theo Johnson have landed on injured reserve and defensive starters Deonte Banks (rib), Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck) and Bobby Okereke (back) did not practice at all this week and have been ruled out. Starting offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quadriceps) and defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (shoulder) were ominously listed as doubtful.
Not having Okereke, who played every defensive snap last year and nearly every one this season, will be an oddity for the Giants.
“It’s definitely a little strange without Bobby out there,” said Micah McFadden, the Giants’ other starting inside linebacker. “I’ve missed games and he’s been out there without me, but I’ve never been out there when he hasn’t been out there. Definitely a little different.”
Rookie Darius Muasau, who has started two of the 10 games in which he played, would line up next to McFadden if Okereke is unable to play.
Eluemunor missed last week’s game in Dallas. His likely absence means the Giants could be starting two players at tackle who are questionable with injuries themselves: Evan Neal (hip) and Chris Hubbard (knee). If either can’t play, Josh Ezeudu would have to play. The Giants also have limited numbers at defensive line.
“Some of these young guys haven’t played a lot of football just in the NFL in general,” Daboll said. “We wish we had Dexter and Andrew Thomas [also on IR] and those guys, but we don’t. That’s the reality of the NFL. So they’re looking forward to the opportunity, which will be a big challenge.”
Nabers, though, would be a huge loss not only for the Giants’ chances of beating the Saints but in terms of the few remaining storylines of interest this season. His quest to surpass the rookie record of 105 catches set last year by Puka Nakua of the Rams was one of the rare bright spots in an otherwise disappointing 100th season for the franchise.
“He’s been great,” said quarterback Drew Lock, who will make his second start for the Giants on Sunday. “Being able to create space in routes is huge in this league and he does a phenomenal job of doing that. It’s probably his best skill besides going up and getting 50-50 balls. He’s shown that on tape this year. The sky’s the limit for him.
"Obviously, every single snap, every game, every rep, he gets to take it to the next level and learn a little bit more about himself and about this league. I’m excited to see where it continues to go for him.''
As for this Sunday, though, no one is even sure if it will continue to go for him.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
