Giants WR Malik Nabers feared lost for season with torn ACL

What looked like a routine play has turned into a nightmare scenario for the New York Giants. Malik Nabers' sophomore campaign has been cut short after the wideout went down with a knee injury midway through the second quarter on Sunday.

Initially ruled out for the rest of the game, the early whispers pointed to a dreaded ACL tear. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero noted the concern, with ESPN's Adam Schefter adding that an MRI was scheduled for Monday morning.

By the afternoon, the fears inside the Giants' building were confirmed. Tests showed Nabers suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season, as first reported by The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

With Malik Nabers sidelined, the Giants will once again turn to Darius Slayton, who has led the team in receiving yards in four of the past six seasons. Rookie Jalin Hyatt also logged 26 snaps after Nabers went down, though he didn't see a single target.

The injury itself was a gut-punch moment. Nabers immediately clutched at his right leg after crashing to the turf, and several Giants players rushed over, sensing the gravity of the situation. The Pro Bowl receiver was visibly distraught as he was helped onto a cart, giving a somber wave to the fans as he was taken off the field.

Before exiting, Nabers managed two receptions for 20 yards. The injury occurred on a free play, with the Chargers flagged for offsides. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart took advantage, launching a deep ball down the sideline to his top weapon. Nabers leapt high to make the grab but came down awkwardly on his right side, sparking immediate concern.

The loss is enormous for New York. As a rookie, Nabers rewrote the team's record books, hauling in 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. This year, he was already off to a hot start with 16 catches, 251 yards, and two scores through just three games. With 127 career receptions in only 19 outings, only Odell Beckham Jr. has tallied more catches through 20 career games in NFL history.

Losing Malik Nabers for the year is a gut punch for the Giants as they try to shape their young core — and a nightmare for fantasy managers who invested heavily in him. Nabers entered Week 4 as the WR9 overall, thanks almost entirely to his monster Week 2 outing against Dallas (9-167-2, 33.2 points). Outside of that, he’d been quiet, but his upside was too valuable to replace. For fantasy rosters that spent an early-round pick on him, this injury is devastating.

Before exiting with two grabs for 20 yards, Nabers looked ready to provide a spark in rookie QB Jaxson Dart's first start, where he scored on the ground and kept the offense rolling early. But his departure completely shifted the tone, even as New York pulled off a surprise win over the Chargers. Without their top weapon, the Giants will be scrambling for answers.

The most obvious beneficiary is Wan’Dale Robinson, who slides into the WR1 spot by default. Still, Robinson profiles more as a PPR safety valve than a true go-to option. He flashed with 24.2 points in Week 2 against Dallas, but that feels like the exception rather than the rule. He’ll see plenty of targets, but his fantasy ceiling will be capped with New York leaning on Cam Skattebo and Dart's legs to move the ball.

Darius Slayton should also return to a full-time role after his snap count dipped last week. Volume alone gives him some appeal, but he’s best viewed as a risky FLEX or bye-week plug-in. Ultimately, there’s simply no replacing what Nabers brought to this passing game.

The Giants kept veteran wideout Darius Slayton around this offseason, and alongside recent Day 2 selections Wan'Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, that trio will now shoulder the bulk of the receiving duties moving forward. The tight end duo of Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger could also be leaned on more heavily as New York reshuffles its passing hierarchy.

Much of Jaxson Dart's performance will directly influence the futures of head coach Brian Daboll and his staff. But with the Giants likely forced to finish out the year minus their top offensive playmaker, the margin for error just got even slimmer.