Malik Nabers hit the practice field for a second straight day, but don’t expect him to be taking any real hits just yet. The Giants star wide receiver is still rocking the red jersey, signaling extreme caution after his torn ACL, as the team held their final padded session before a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. It’s clear they’re not rushing their guy.
Nabers Is Moving, But Not Getting Touched
Nabers took a couple of team reps on Tuesday, a lighter load after logging seven reps on Monday, which was his first time in a team setting this summer. While his teammates were in full pads, Nabers was limited to shells, a clear indicator he’s still far from full contact. There was a moment in 7-on-7 drills where he snagged a long pass from Jaxson Dart, and it was crystal clear that defensive backs Tyler Nubin and Jevon Holland knew not to touch him. In a real game, those guys would’ve laid a big hit, no question. Head coach John Harbaugh put it simply: Nabers needs to “get bumped around and hit and fronted up” in practice before he can even be considered for game action. And right now? The Giants aren’t ready for that. Meanwhile, the Giants also had some other guys out of practice, including cornerback Colton Hood, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (ankle/leg), and defensive tackles Josh Tupou and Bobby Jamison-Travis.
Rookie Linebacker Arvell Reese Is Making Noise
Forget just showing up; rookie linebacker Arvell Reese went off during 11-on-11 red zone work, making back-to-back huge plays. First, he totally shut down a pass Dart tried to float over him to tight end Isaiah Likely at the goal line, swatting it away with his size and athleticism. On the very next snap, Reese wasn’t done, barreling into the backfield alongside Chauncey Golston to absolutely stuff Cam Skattebo for a loss. That’s the kind of impact that gets you noticed fast! And speaking of getting even, offensive lineman Andrew Thomas definitely got his revenge during 1-on-1 blocking/rushing drills. Edge defender Abdul Carter had been getting the better of him for a couple of days in West Virginia, but Thomas shut that down. He used his left arm to force Carter, who was speed rushing, right around the pocket. Then, when Carter tried a bull rush, Thomas just completely stoned him, sending him nowhere.
Drill Domination and Frustration on the Field
The 1-on-1 drills kept bringing the action. Sisi Mauigoa notched wins against both Chauncey Golston and Darius Alexander. Rookie Anquin Barnes flat-out smoked Evan Neal, ripping past his left shoulder. Daniel Faalele split his reps against Kayvon Thibodeaux, losing the first when Thibodeaux went inside, but then pushing Thibodeaux past the pocket on the second. And man, Jake Kubas had his teammates going wild when he completely stuffed Thibodeaux on a power rush, battling for that depth chart climb. Over on the wide receiver vs. cornerback side, Dru Phillips, who’s back after a knee sprain, batted away a short out pass intended for Darnell Mooney. Ryan Miller roasted Paulson Adebo on an out-and-up, but you could tell he was super frustrated when Brandon Allen didn’t even throw him the ball. Malachi Fields also beat Adebo on a deep ball, even though Adebo was in position, he just couldn’t locate it.
The Giants are heading to Miami for that joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday. It’ll be a real test for some of these guys, especially Reese, to see how they stack up against another team’s roster. But you know all eyes are still on Nabers, just waiting to see when that red jersey comes off and he can finally get the “bumped around” experience Coach Harbaugh says he needs. This squad has gotta get these guys game-ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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