Giants WR Nabers active for opener vs. Cowboys

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  Jordan RaananSep 13, 2026, 07:10 PM ET

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  Jordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants standout wide receiver Malik Nabers is active for Sunday night's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys as he returns from a torn ACL.

Nabers, who injured his right knee in Week 4 of last season, was listed as questionable before the game.

"I think he's ready to go," coach John Harbaugh said earlier in the week. "We'll see. It's still four days, five days until we play. If he's ready to go and feels like he's ready to go, then he'll play. If he's not ready, then he won't play. That's how it works."

Nabers made it clear that the team was leaving the final decision up to him. It was his career and he wanted to make sure he was able to handle a full workload.

The third-year wide receiver was a full participant in practice this week.

Nabers had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns in four games last season. The Giants' No. 1 receiver had over 1,200 yards with seven touchdowns his rookie campaign.

Nabers handled a majority of the first-team reps at practice in the leadup to Sunday night's game. He has been back as a full participant in practice with no limitations for several weeks.

But it was about making sure he felt right on game day. Nabers went through a workout with the team's return-to-play trainer before the final decision was made before the game.

Nabers immediately slots in as the Giants' No. 1 receiver. He's looking to play his first full game with Jaxson Dart as the team's starting quarterback. Nabers was injured early in Dart's first start last season.

Veteran Odell Beckham Jr., who rejoined the Giants this offseason, has dealt with multiple torn ACLs and served as a sounding board for Nabers throughout the process.

"The only thing that I've said is there's going to be that bit of fear and anxiety. And it's a natural thing," Beckham said. "He looks great. But deep down inside, it's a decision for him because at the end of the day, let's say something were to happen again that isn't good, he's the one who's affected. And then his career is then not necessarily in his hands.

"...So, my advice for him is like when you are ready and you feel it, that's when you come back.