New York Giants (1-3 straight up, 2-2 against the spread) star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL during Sunday’s 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He’ll need season-ending surgery when the swelling goes down in the coming weeks.
The Nabers news put a major damper on what was an otherwise terrific day for the Giants, who saw the Jaxson Dart Era get off to a fantastic start in the upset win as six-point home underdogs over the previously undefeated Chargers.
Nabers had two receptions for 20 yards before getting injured on a deep pass down the right sideline. The second-year wideout from LSU immediately reached for his right leg upon hitting the ground and was in obvious pain.
“Obviously, prayers to him,” Dart said after the game. “I don’t think we know exactly what happened. He’s going to be one of my first phone calls to check on him. But Malik is one of one.”
“Injuries happen. Certainly not happy about it, whether it’s Malik or anybody else. But unfortunately, this is a business of injury, and I feel terrible for Malik’s injury. We’ll see where it’s at,” New York head coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s an important piece of our team, but the guys that play behind him, just like last year when [WR Darius Slayton] went in in Seattle and the week after that, wherever it may be, everybody gets paid to do a job. And it’s next-man up.”
As a rookie in 2024, Nabers played in 15 regular-season games and had a franchise-record 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. More than half (55) of his receptions resulted in first downs.
In a 40-37 overtime loss at Dallas in Week 2, Nabers had 13 catches for 167 yards and two TDs. His 2025 campaign ends with 18 receptions for 271 yards and two TDs.
Dart, the rookie QB who was New York’s first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was making his first career start against the Bolts. On the Giants’ opening drive of the game, the Ole Miss product led a nine-play, 89-yard drive that was capped by his 15-yard TD run.
Dart completed 13-of-20 passes for 111 yards and one TD without an interception. He added 54 rushing yards and one TD on 10 attempts. Another rookie, RB Cam Skattebo, had 79 rushing yards on 25 attempts.
New York’s defense intercepted L.A. QB Justin Herbert twice. Dexter Lawrence had one of the picks and returned it 37 yards, while Dru Phillips had the other interception that he returned 56 yards. DE Brian Burns added five tackles and one sack.
As of early Monday afternoon, most books had the Giants installed as 1.5-point road favorites for Sunday’s road game at winless New Orleans. The total was 41.5 points at most spots.