The positive signs surrounding Nabers have been few and far between in recent months, as news of his second clean-up surgery to remove scar tissue this offseason dampened expectations. Nabers suffered a torn ACL in late September. He did not participate in offseason workouts.
The Giants brass spoke somewhat optimistically about Naber’s availability early this season, but there had been no concrete evidence to back up the float. Nabers avoiding PUP provides something.
The next question, as Giants veterans report next week and practice begins, is how much Nabers will be involved. We’d expect Big Blue to ease his star back, but the sooner he participates in team practice, the better idea we’ll have of how active he’ll be early in the season.
Naber’s availability is key to the Giants’ receiver room. New York has an abundance of veterans with Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, and the additions of Odell Beckham, Darnell Mooney and JuJu Smith-Schuster this offseason to go with rookie Malachi Fields in the third round. None of them are close to the field Nabers can be when healthy. Without a No. 1 pick, New York’s passing offense could be struggling. If Nabers can be 100% early in the season, it would completely change the Giants offense for Jaxson Dart.