Kristina Roberts
The first week of the NFL preseason has ended, and excitement is high as fans watch their favorite players prepare for the regular season. But for the New York Giants, there’s a growing concern about one of their most important stars — wide receiver Malik Nabers.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll shared on Tuesday that Nabers would not be practicing again, even though the team had planned joint practice sessions with the New York Jets. This is not just a one-time break; it’s the latest in a string of missed practices. Nabers has been absent from training since August 6, when he left the field early. At the time, he explained it was part of “the process.”
What worries many is that Daboll did not answer questions about whether Nabers might need more medical tests for his injury. The problem lies in his toe — an injury he has been dealing with since his college football days. Nabers has even admitted in the past that surgery could be necessary someday. Earlier in training camp, however, he expressed confidence in the Giants’ “great” day-to-day management plan for keeping him healthy.
The team’s main focus right now is making sure Nabers is ready for the regular season. While fans and Nabers himself might have been excited to see him face off against star Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner during the joint practices, the Giants are not willing to take any risks. It makes sense — Nabers is too valuable to lose before the season even begins.
Last year, Nabers had an incredible rookie season. In just 15 games, he caught 109 passes, gained 1,204 yards, and scored seven touchdowns. He managed all this despite the Giants having shaky quarterback performance throughout the season. His strong performance made it clear the Giants made an excellent decision by drafting him.
But this year, the situation feels different. Nabers is not just a talented player — he is the centerpiece of the Giants’ offense. He’s the player who can make big plays and turn games around. That’s why every day he misses practice due to this long-standing toe injury raises more and more questions.
A lingering injury like this can be tricky. Athletes push their bodies hard, and even a small injury can affect how they move, run, or catch the ball. Nabers’ toe problem is not new, which makes fans nervous about how it might affect his long-term performance.
The NFL preseason is a time when teams experiment with strategies, try out new plays, and test how players work together on the field. It’s also when rookies and less experienced players get a chance to prove themselves. But for the Giants, this preseason is missing a key part of their puzzle because their main receiver isn’t taking part in practices.
Coach Daboll’s choice to hold Nabers back from the joint practices with the Jets shows how carefully the team is handling this situation. It’s not just about one game or one week — it’s about protecting Nabers for the months ahead. The regular season is long, and every game matters. Losing a star player early could be a huge setback for the team’s hopes this year.
Meanwhile, another story catching attention in NFL training camps involves quarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns. Sanders, a fifth-round rookie, is still listed as fourth on the team’s depth chart. This comes even after he made a solid impression in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers.
On the Browns’ unofficial depth chart, Sanders sits behind experienced veteran Joe Flacco, quarterback Kenny Pickett, and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Many fans expected that his strong performance in the preseason opener might move him up in the rankings, but that hasn’t happened yet.
The Browns are preparing for their second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Reports say that both Flacco and Pickett will not be playing in that game, which opens the door for Sanders to get more time on the field. But when asked if Sanders might start the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski simply said, “I’m not there on the game itself.”
This kind of statement leaves room for guessing. Fans wonder if the Browns are keeping Sanders in a lower position for now to ease him into the league or if they still want to see more from him before trusting him with bigger responsibilities.
The preseason is an important time for rookies like Sanders. It’s their opportunity to adapt to the speed and complexity of the NFL compared to college football. Even if they aren’t starting right away, these games are a valuable chance to learn, adjust, and show coaches what they can do under pressure.
In both Nabers’ and Sanders’ cases, the preseason is highlighting the balance NFL teams must find between potential and caution. For Nabers, it’s about protecting a proven star from worsening an injury before the season begins. For Sanders, it’s about giving a promising rookie the right amount of playing time to help him grow without overwhelming him too soon.
For the Giants, Nabers’ situation will remain a topic of conversation until he returns to the field. Fans will be watching closely to see if his toe improves enough for him to participate in the final preseason games or if the team continues to rest him until the season opener. His performance last year set high expectations, and supporters are eager to see him back making big plays.
For the Browns, Sanders’ position on the depth chart may not mean much in the long run. Many great NFL quarterbacks started their careers as backups before getting their chance to shine. What matters is how well he performs when he does get playing time — and whether he can prove he’s ready to compete at the highest level.
The preseason is just the beginning, but it often reveals early signs of the challenges and successes a team might face. For the Giants, the challenge is keeping their best offensive weapon healthy. For the Browns, it’s deciding when to give their rookie quarterback a bigger role.
As the weeks go on, both stories will continue to develop. Nabers’ recovery and Sanders’ progress will be closely followed not just by their teams, but by fans across the league who know that in the NFL, every player’s journey can change in an instant.
