The Los Angeles Rams are no stranger to injuries in the offseason that can leave the upcoming season hanging in the balance. In the 2023 offseason, Cooper Kupp missed time because of a hamstring injury and opened the season on injured reserve. In the 2024 offseason, Puka Nacua nursed a knee injury that he suffered in a joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers. The same injury caused Nacua to miss Weeks 2-7 of the season. In the 2025 offseason, Matthew Stafford hardly practiced in training camp because of a back injury.
In this case, the New York Giants are dealing with a major injury situation with star wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers originally injured his knee in Week 4 of the 2025 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, ending what had already become another breakout year for the former LSU standout. The injury required surgery after a month-long “pre-hab” process designed to strengthen the knee before the operation.
While the expectation for much of the offseason was that Nabers would be ready for the start of the 2026 season, recent developments have added uncertainty to that timeline. Reports surfaced earlier this month that Nabers underwent a second procedure to remove scar tissue from the knee after experiencing stiffness during rehabilitation. Giants head coach John Harbaugh recently acknowledged that the recovery has been “not simple” and admitted there is currently no definitive timeline for the receiver’s return.
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That uncertainty opens the door to a potentially difficult decision for the Giants. If Nabers is not fully cleared by the start of the regular season, the team could elect to place him on injured reserve to begin the year. Under NFL rules, that would sideline him for at least the first four games of the season. Such a move would allow the Giants to avoid rushing their franchise receiver back before he is physically ready.
If that is the case, Nabers would miss the Week 2 Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams. The absence of Nabers would certainly weaken the New York Giants offense. Although, the Rams may be more concerned with the Giants defense that Harbaugh is creating in New York.
Either way, the news is worth watching as the next few months unfold. If Nabers does miss, the spread will likely increase in Los Angeles’s favor.
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