00:00The Giants are going to hit the practice field Wednesday, July 29th, the kickoff training camp.
00:05And the biggest story isn't who's hurt, it's actually who's not on the injury list.
00:10The Giants placed three players on the PUP list to start camp.
00:15Darius Slayton wasn't on that list, by the way.
00:17But the biggest name of them all who wasn't on it, third-year wide receiver Malik Nabors.
00:24But what does that exactly mean?
00:26As a quick refresher to those out there, Nabors tore his ACL with meniscus damage back in week four last
00:33season.
00:34He needed a second clean-up surgery this offseason.
00:37And there are even doubts or real questions about whether he'd be ready to play weeks one through four, let
00:43alone the start of training camp.
00:45But here's what not putting him on the PUP list to start training camp means and why this matter.
00:52Staying off PUP means that he can practice fully right away.
00:57Zero restrictions.
00:58No one in their right mind thinks that they're going to actually do that, though.
01:02You keep him off the list so that they can slowly sprinkle him in when and how they want when
01:08they think that he's ready.
01:10And they can see how both he and the knee progresses.
01:13You want him to be around the team and on the practice field, not in a red jersey, off to
01:19the side with the trainers.
01:20Could this mean that he'll be ready week one against Dallas?
01:24Only time, and his body will tell you.
01:27But it looks like the Giants aren't closing the door on that possible return.
01:33However, slow it down because John Harbaugh has been careful with his words, calling the knee not simple.
01:40So this is progress, but it's not a guarantee.
01:43And before anyone gets too excited, the history of receivers and ACL tears is kind of a mixed bag when
01:50it comes to their return.
01:52About a third of receivers who tear an ACL don't even make it back on the field the following season.
01:58But when they ball, they absolutely ball.
02:01I'm talking Cooper Cupp, Keenan Allen, Julian Edelman, all top tier the year after their tear.
02:08And that's exactly why this matters so much for the Giants.
02:11Malik Nabors has been the weapon in this offense since his rookie year when he put up 109 catches for
02:181,200-plus yards and seven touchdowns.
02:22He's the playmaker of this passing game, the X-factor in Matt Nagy's new offense,
02:27and is going to play a huge role for Jackson Dart's development heading into his year, too.
02:33Without him at full strength, talking about Malik Nabors, that entire unit looks different.
02:39So not putting him on PUP doesn't mean he's going to be out there in full pads day one running
02:46routes and stock blocking.
02:47I need y'all to manage your expectations.
02:50It's getting him whatever reps they feel he's ready for and keeping him on the field with the offense
02:56to pick up the things in Nagy's offense that you just don't pick up in film rooms or reading the
03:02playbook.
03:03But it is some good news and a good start to his journey back on the field.
