Malik Nabers’ season is over.
His loss is a devastating blow for the Giants (1-3) and for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who now should play his first NFL season with out the group’s finest weapon.
“Malik’s one-of-one,” Dart stated after Sunday’s win. “So when you’ve got a man like that on the sphere, you’ve got all the boldness on this planet that he can simply be a dominant game-changer.
“But I thought from that moment, obviously it’s really hard seeing one of your best friends go down, but we were able to rally,” the quarterback added. “I thought guys made some good plays. But obviously, just prayers to him.”
Nabers, 22, set the Giants’ single-season franchise file with 109 receptions as a rookie final season on an absurd 170 targets. That snapped Steve Smith’s former Giants file of 107 catches in 2009.
His 109 catches are the second-most receptions by any rookie in NFL historical past behind solely fellow 2024 rookie Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers (112).
Nabers additionally racked up 1,204 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns final season. That marked the ninth-highest receiving yardage whole in Giants historical past and the second most for a Giants rookie behind solely Odell Beckham Jr. (1,305 yards in 2014).
However Nabers’ second NFL season now crashes to an early finish with 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He made 9 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a slim Week 2 time beyond regulation loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Now the Giants should pivot and discover options with out him.
Proper now meaning giving 2023 third-round decide Jalin Hyatt a possibility to fill the void alongside veteran Darius Slayton and 2022 second-round decide Wan’Dale Robinson.
Veteran Lil’ Jordan Humphrey additionally could possibly be an choice off the follow squad. He performed lots with Dart throughout the preseason and even caught a landing go from Dart within the quarterback’s preseason debut in opposition to the Buffalo Payments.
If Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll wish to go outdoors the constructing and commerce for a receiver, there are additionally some names to keep watch over, beginning with one they’ll face this weekend in New Orleans: Saints wideout Chris Olave.
It is a growing story. Verify again for updates.
