Malik Nabers Out with Toe Injury for Giants vs. Jets Joint Practice amid NFL Preseason

The New York Giants will be without their top playmaker for Tuesday's joint practice with the New York Jets.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters Malik Nabers will not be on the field because of his toe injury. Daboll didn't provide any details when asked whether the wide receiver will need additional testing on the toe.

While the injury means fans won't get to see Nabers go against Sauce Gardner in the joint practice, the Giants are clearly prioritizing his health at this point of the schedule.

And the limited work is also part of the plan.

"I'm doing fine," Nabers told reporters last week. "The coaches and the training staff, they got a process with what they want me to do that has me being healthy for when we're ready to play. I just gotta do my job and follow the plan that they put in here."

The LSU product may eventually need surgery to address the toe injury that has been something of an issue since his collegiate days, so it is always going to be a storyline if he is missing practice time.

It would also be surprising if he played in Saturday's game against the Jets, especially after sitting out practice leading up to the contest. Having him available for the Sept. 7 season opener against the Washington Commanders is far more important.

The toe concerns didn't stop the No. 6 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft from dominating last season as a Pro Bowl selection with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a bright spot on an otherwise disappointing Giants team and figures to be a franchise building block for years to come.

Nabers could be even better this season if he takes a jump with more NFL experience under his belt, although much of that will depend on what type of chemistry he is able to build with new quarterback Russell Wilson.

New York would surely want him back on the field as soon as possible to continue building that chemistry in the preseason, but it is using caution with less than a month remaining until the regular season.