After bursting onto the scene in 2025 as one of the NFL’s most electric young playmakers, Malik Nabers looked like the centerpiece of the New York Giants’ rebuild before everything came crashing down last season.
The former LSU star was on pace for a monster sophomore season before suffering a devastating ACL and meniscus injury on Sept. 28, 2025, an injury that immediately raised questions about both his availability for 2026 and the long-term explosiveness that made him such a nightmare matchup in the first place.
Before the injury, Nabers had been everything the Giants hoped for and more. As a rookie in 2024, he had 109 receptions on a whopping 170 targets (second most in the NFL) along with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
He was the engine of the offense again in 2025, piling up 251 yards and two touchdowns on 16 catches in his first three games before the injury, including a monster 167-yard performance against the Cowboys in Week 2.
Nabers looked every bit like a bona fide WR1 and appeared to be building chemistry with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Now, a new injury update has emerged just ahead of Giants OTAs.
Nabers reportedly underwent a second knee procedure “multiple weeks ago” to remove scar tissue that had been causing stiffness.
The surgery was described internally as a “clean up,” and, importantly, it is not expected to alter his recovery timeline.
When it comes to ACL recoveries, scar tissue buildup is not uncommon, especially after combined ACL and meniscus repairs.
Athletes can develop arthrofibrosis, essentially excess scar tissue that limits range of motion and creates stiffness. When that happens, surgeons sometimes perform a minimally invasive arthroscopic cleanup procedure to restore mobility and help the athlete regain full explosiveness.
In many cases, it is less alarming than it sounds.
The timing is actually notable here. Nabers’ original surgery happened in late October 2025, meaning he is roughly six-and-a-half months into recovery. That is typically the stage where players transition from basic rehabilitation into more aggressive football-specific movement training such as cutting, acceleration, deceleration, and rotational work.
If stiffness was limiting that process, a cleanup procedure could actually improve his odds of being ready for Week 1 rather than jeopardize them.
Still, ACL recoveries for skill-position players are never perfectly linear. Historically, players often need 9 to 12 months just to return to game action, and another season beyond that before they fully resemble themselves again.
The Giants’ 2026 OTA Offseason Workouts begin May 19 and run through June 4, with sessions scheduled for May 19-21, May 27-29, and June 1-4.
Mandatory minicamp follows shortly after on June 8-10, which is typically the first major checkpoint for injured players like Nabers.
Training camp dates have not been officially announced yet, but the team is expected to report in late July.