EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Over the past month, New York Giants’ first-round draft pick Malik Nabers has shown he may be ready to do big things in the NFL.
The wide receiver from LSU who was the sixth pick overall has wowed teammates and coaches at organized team activities with his speed, explosiveness, hands, playmaking and touchdown catches. If he stays healthy and the offensive line provides some protection, the Giants will have a receiver that will bring back memories of Odell Beckham Jr.
The biggest question is who’s going to be throwing him the ball. The Giants hope it is Daniel Jones.
The 27-year-old quarterback is coming off surgery to his right ACL. He was hurt against the Raiders in Las Vegas on Nov. 5, had surgery a little more than two weeks later and went into rehabilitation. He was ready for the OTAs, but he has not participated in team drills.
Coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday that his sixth-year quarterback is right on schedule heading into training camp late next month.
Jones is more confident.
“I expect to be ready to go the first day of training camp,” Jones said, even though he did not say whether he would be 100 percent.
Jones believes he has taken constant steps in his rehab. The Duke product added he is feeling sharper, cleaner with a lot of his cuts and working on getting his explosiveness back. He hopes to be better than before his injury.
“I think I can do all that stuff now and I’ll be even better in a month,” said Jones, who had a career year in getting the Giants to the playoffs in 2022 for the first time since 2016.
He regressed last season before the injury, in large part because of a poor offensive line that allowed 85 sacks, the second most by a team in NFL history.
Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen have options if Jones is not ready for the season opener on Sept. 8 at home against the Minnesota Vikings.
They signed veteran Drew Lock in the offseason as a free agent and have fan favorite and local product Tommy DeVito back. He had a 3-3 record as a starter after Jones and then backup Tyrod Taylor were hurt.
Nabers worked with Jones in 7-on-7 drills and last week, the two combined on several good scoring plays. It’s nothing new to Nabors. He had more than 2,500 yards receiving and 17 TD catches combined in his final two seasons in college.
“I feel like it’s no pressure,” he said. “I’ve been playing football all of my life. I’m just trying to stay up with the guys here. You know, put the competition that those older guys want to see out of me. I’m just trying to be me, trying to level up my game every day I’m out here.”
Tight end Daniel Bellinger, whose role should increase with the recent retirement of Darren Waller, said all the tight ends will benefit if Jones can open up the offense with throws to Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt.
Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke called Nabers dynamic.
“He’s athletic. You guys saw him on the podium. He has poise. Obviously a record holder at LSU. He’s going to have a great career,” the Giants leading tackler last season said.
The Giants will have the final day of their mandatory two-day minicamp on Wednesday before the team takes a six-week break leading to the start of training camp.
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