Malik Nabers sheds red jersey, takes step toward playing Week 1 vs. Dallas Cowboys

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After wide receiver Malik Nabers took another step forward on Monday in his recovery from a torn ACL, New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said it is “reasonable” to think Nabers has a chance to play in the Giants’ Sept. 13 season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

In a shells practice with little contact, Nabers was on the field participating in team drills without a red, non-contact jersey for the first time.

Unofficially, Nabers took 13 reps, some in 11-on-11 and some in 7-on-7. He caught six passes from Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston, and Brandon Allen. Nabers’ best catch was a diving play on a comeback route from Allen in front of cornerback Art Green.

Nabers was barely touched during any of his 13 reps.

Harbaugh stopped short of predicting that Nabers would be ready for Week 1.

“I just don’t want to make any kind of statements like that. I think it’s reasonable to assume that, those are all kind of things that you can assume; it’s just based on watching the guy practice,” Harbaugh said. “The only thing I know more than you guys know is what the docs and trainers tell me as far as his rehab, and that’s doing well, he’s doing really well with that. 

“He’s strong, he’s in a good place, but how he gets through practice, how ready he is to play and protect himself is really based on practice, so you’re watching practice, too, and you can see it.

Here are a few more takeaways from Monday.
leaves practice

Tight end Theo Johnson left practice after a collision with Kayvon Thibodeaux.

“I think he’s okay, didn’t get a report back that it was serious, but they’ll look at it. I haven’t talked to him since,” Harbaugh said.

• Starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor missed practice. Harbaugh said Eluemunor should return on Tuesday. Marcus Mbow took first-team reps in Eluemunor’s absence.

• Starting right guard Francis Mauigoa (stinger) did not practice. Mauigoa did come outside to watch part of practice. Harbaugh said Mauigoa should return to practice on Tuesday. Aaron Stinnie took first-team reps at right guard.

• Rookie cornerback Colton Hood returned to practice.

• Linebacker Jack Kelly left the field with a trainer, but returned after a few minutes to watch. He did not return to action.

Starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor missed practice. Harbaugh said Eluemunor should return on Tuesday. Marcus Mbow took first-team reps in Eluemunor’s absence.

Starting right guard Francis Mauigoa (stinger) did not practice. Mauigoa did come outside to watch part of practice. Harbaugh said Mauigoa should return to practice on Tuesday. Aaron Stinnie took first-team reps at right guard.

Rookie cornerback Colton Hood returned to practice.

Linebacker Jack Kelly left the field with a trainer, but returned after a few minutes to watch. He did not return to action.

The Giants’ leadership council met on the field for quite a while after practice. That group included Jaxson Dart, Andrew Thomas, Chris Manhertz, Jordan Stout, Jameis Winston, Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jevon Holland. Harbaugh said that group was elected by player vote.

Harbaugh said the meeting was about “in-house stuff, it really isn’t anything that I want to share.”

Harbaugh said jokingly that the players had asked him for a pool table.

“I told them, hey, we win games? … We might get a golf simulator if we win enough games,” Harbaugh said.