While not rehabbing an injury on the level of Andrew Thomas‘ Lisfranc issue, Malik Nabers joined the All-Pro tackle in being a non-participant in the offseason program.

Nabers did not participate in spring practices due to a lingering toe injury, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. Brian Daboll said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan) that he is not concerned about Nabers’ status and expects him to be ready for training camp.

Nabers’ injury dates back to his time at LSU, but it has not caused him to miss a game in college or the NFL. He also participated in the Pro Bowl Games in February and is not expected to need surgery to address the lingering matter. Instead, the Giants are moving forward with a rehab plan with the goal of getting Nabers back on the practice field when the team gathers for training camp in July.

The 2024 No. 6 pick flashed immediate difference-making potential as a rookie, tallying 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns despite inconsistent quarterback play. While the Giants have almost definitely upgraded at quarterback this offseason, the new arrivals have been unable to begin work with the team’s top weapon. That will be tabled to training camp.

Nabers been unable to develop chemistry with the Giants’ new trio of passers – Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart – this spring, making training camp all the more important for getting on the same page. After all, Nabers participated in last year’s spring workouts and displayed the talent that had prompted the Giants — after their Drake Maye trade push failed — to pass on Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix at No. 6.

An embattled Giants regime has plenty riding on Nabers panning out, as the team circled back to its need for a Daniel Jones QB upgrade (via Dart at No. 25) after going wide receiver in last year’s first round. That lofty investment makes this toe injury something to monitor. Extensive rest stands to help the former Jayden Daniels college target, but it will be interesting to see if this issue recurs in Year 2.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Last month, Giants owner John Mara acknowledged the team’s need for a quarterback and said the front office could target the position either via free agency or the draft. With more time to reflect, it sounds like the organization is considering adding players from both of those buckets.

[RELATED: Giants Open To Resolving QB Issue With Draft Pick, Veteran]

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Giants to sign a veteran quarterback and select a rookie at that position in the draft. Fowler notes there’s urgency for coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen to get this right, as the duo’s job status could be tied to their handling of the QBs room in 2025.

It’s obviously not a profound concept to pair a bridge QB with a young signal caller, but it sounds like the Giants have their eye on someone more significant than a one-year veteran stopgap. Fowler believes that free agent Russell Wilson and trade option Matthew Stafford could be targets for the Giants, and there are plenty of additional options that will or could be available (including Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins).

None of those options will truly change the long-term trajectory of the franchise, but they should still command a pretty penny. Fortunately for the Giants, they have some financial wiggle room to compete in a bidding war. The team is projected to have more than $44MM in cap space, and they could easily carve out additional breathing room by releasing players or restructuring contracts.

Armed with the third-overall pick, the Giants should also be in prime position to take one of the draft’s top QB prospects. While neither Shedeur Sanders nor Cam Ward are considered blue-chip prospects, the Giants wouldn’t have to be entirely reliant on their rookie if they add a veteran atop the depth chart.

Interestingly, the Giants are turning to one of their offensive stars for opinions on draft options. Wideout Malik Nabers told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post that the Giants have reached out to him about his thoughts on the quarterback prospects.

“I’m paying attention to it with the eyes of a hawk,” Nabers said. “[The Giants] have been keeping me in the loop, whether it’s who I like. They always ask me questions like that. When I watch [Sanders and Ward], I pick the things I like about both of them and go back and tell them.”

Never is a wide receiver drafted in the top-ten without the intention that they will be a crucial part of the offense as a rookie. Three such players emerged in this year’s draft, and LSU-product Malik Nabers will surely be relied upon in New York as a result. While there are several examples of top-drafted receivers not living up to their billing, first impressions seem to indicate that Nabers will not disappoint, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

In the past few years, the Giants have become heavily invested in quarterback Daniel Jones, so much so that the quarterback’s recent extension factored into whether or not franchise back Saquon Barkley would remain in New York; spoiler alert, he did not. The struggle has been that, while investing in Jones, the team has neglected their offensive line and receiving corps.

Attempts have certainly been made to improve both position groups over the last few years, but the level of success has been negligible thus far. The Giants routinely see themselves in the top ten for sacks allowed, and the NFC’s New York squad has not seen a 1,000-yard receiver since Eli Manning was hooking up with Odell Beckham Jr. back in 2018. Since then, Darius Slayton has been the team’s leading receiver but has failed to eclipse even 800 receiving yards, topping out at 770 last year.

Enter: Malik Nabers. Nabers was drafted No. 6 overall, and the only reason he wasn’t selected any higher was because of the need for quarterbacks at the top of the draft. Many prospect rankings had Nabers as the third-best prospect in the draft, behind only Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. LSU has produced some NFL greats at wide receiver (Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase in recent years, to name a few), yet Nabers holds career records in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003) for the Tigers despite only three years of play.

At just over six-feet tall and just under 200 pounds, Nabers lacks ideal size but was still one of the draft’s most polished wideouts. Spending about half his time on the outside and half in the slot, Nabers can be utilized all over the field. He led college football in catches over 20 yards last year with 34, consistently shows an ability to produce on passes underneath, and claims the jet sweep as his favorite call in the playbook. With elite body control and strong top-end speed, it was hardly a surprise to see Nabers become the top pick of the year for New York.

What is perhaps even less of a surprise is hearing that Nabers has impressed in offseason work so far. With quickness, great hands, and constant playmaking, Nabers caught the attention of many at the team’s minicamp. He’s immediately become a fixture on the first-team offense, playing all over the field like he did in college, and has received rave reviews from his new quarterback.

“I think he can be a tremendous weapon for us. He’s had a good spring. He’s looked good and made a lot of plays,” Jones told reporters. “I mean, he can do everything. There is not much that he can’t do, really, from a route-running standpoint. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands and strong, fast, explosive, catches the ball well.”

All of this buildup is creating larger-than-life expectations for the rookie who has his fellow LSU-alum Beckham’s legacy to live up to. Beckham delivered on expectations, opening his career with three straight seasons of at least 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. Nabers may not need to reach those types of numbers to avoid the “bust” label, but New York is hoping at least to see him emerge as WR1 in his rookie year.