Jordan Raanan
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants had their worst fears confirmed Monday with an MRI exhibiting that standout broad receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his proper knee, coach Brian Daboll introduced.
The prognosis leaves an enormous gap within the Giants' lineup.
“We'll have an incredible quantity of help for him and his household,” Daboll mentioned. “That is clearly a tricky loss for our soccer workforce, however we'll regroup, and we'll get the blokes able to play which can be right here and be nearly as good as we might be. On the perimeter, I do know these guys will do the whole lot they'll do to be nearly as good as we might be. However definitely, whenever you lose one in every of your higher gamers, that is an enormous loss.”
Nabers suffered the harm whereas attempting to catch a deep ball down the precise sideline within the first half of Sunday's 21-18 victory in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. He instantly reached for his proper leg as he was within the air and landed onerous on the bottom.
Nearly all the Giants workforce got here onto the sphere to examine on Nabers, who was in intense ache, as he was being attended to by the medical employees.
The Professional Bowl receiver appeared demoralized as he left the sphere. He had a towel over his head earlier than finally waving to the followers as he was taken off the sphere on a cart.
The Giants (1-3) and new quarterback Jaxson Dart should transfer ahead with out Nabers, who was formally positioned on injured reserve later Monday.
“Love you bro. You'll be again even higher,” quarterback Russell Wilson wrote on an Instagram story with praying emojis.
Nabers' faculty teammate, finest pal and present Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels additionally posted a message of encouragement Monday morning.
“U a solider … I bought u brudda,” Daniels wrote.
Nabers caught a franchise-record 109 passes for 1,204 yards and 7 touchdowns final season as a rookie. He had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns previous to the harm this season. His 127 receptions via the primary 19 video games of his profession stands to rank second to Odell Beckham Jr. in NFL historical past for essentially the most via 20 video games.
Darius Slayton, who has led the workforce in receptions 4 of the previous six seasons, will step into the No. 1 position in Nabers' absence. Extra may also be anticipated from 2023 third-round choose Jalin Hyatt, who has but to catch a cross this season however performed 23 snaps in Nabers' absence on Sunday.
Rookie undrafted free agent Beaux Collins additionally noticed an uptick in his utilization Sunday afternoon with out Nabers.
The early a part of this season was a grind for Nabers, who had missed apply time with again and shoulder issues. He's anticipated to bear surgical procedure within the coming weeks with a watch on returning for the beginning of subsequent season.
“I did not suppose it was going to be that severe, personally, truthfully,” outdoors linebacker Brian Burns mentioned after Sunday's recreation. “My coronary heart goes out to that child. I've seen him work. The work that he did, the additional work he put in with [Wilson], what he was banking on, his targets for the season. However Leek will probably be again. He will probably be again higher than ever. But it surely's robust.”
