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Injury updates on Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo

NABERS-SKATTEBO

The big story of the day was John Harbaugh being introduced as the 21st head coach in the history of the New York Football Giants.

But that was far from the only news on Tuesday.

General manager Joe Schoen spoke with the media following Harbaugh's press conference, where he provided updates on the injury status of wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo.

Nabers suffered a torn ACL during the team's Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, an injury that cost him the rest of the season. While Schoen wouldn't say anything definitively about the timetable for the young wideout's return, the general manager did say Nabers looks like he could be ready for the start of camp.

"Malik is trending to hopefully be ready for training camp," Schoen added. "Things can change ... but that's the hope."

The injury occurred with 6:12 left in the second quarter of Jaxson Dart's first career start under center. Nabers had two receptions for 20 yards on three targets up to that point.

In his four games, the young receiver totaled 18 receptions for 271 yards, including his explosive 167-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Cowboys in Week 2.

Nabers enjoyed a historic rookie campaign in 2024 as he set a new franchise single-season reception record on his way to being named to the Pro Bowl. He finished his rookie season with 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.

While Harbaugh said he has not had the chance to meet Nabers in person over the last week, the two were able to connect over the phone, where the 22-year-old made a strong first impression on his new head coach.

"I had a chance to talk to Malik on the phone," Harbaugh said after the press conference. "It was great. He was training out in LA, rehabbing out there for a week or whatever it was and working hard. I just love talking to him. His joy and excitement, he had some really good ideas, he's really a thoughtful guy. Obviously, saw him coming out (of LSU). He wasn't a guy we had a chance for, so it was like, 'Well, look at this guy, he's really good.' Just kind of a dream. I figured we might have to cover him someday, and here we are, we get a chance to coach him. So I'm really excited about it."

View photos of new head coach John Harbaugh arriving at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

As for Skattebo, the young running back is on track to be ready for the start of the Giants' offseason workout program in the spring.

"He'll be fine," Schoen said about the 23-year-old running back. "He'll actually be prepared for the offseason program on April 6th. He should be good."

Skattebo suffered a dislocated ankle in Week 8 when the Giants were on the road in Philadelphia. The young back underwent successful surgery that night at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital Presbyterian campus and was discharged the next day.

"That's not even a question," Skattebo said after the season ended on whether or not he would return to 100 percent. "I'm going to be back. I've played seven games in the NFL and I got hurt. There's a long road ahead. That is not going to stop me."

In his limited action this past season, Skattebo ran the ball 101 times for 410 yards (4.1 avg.) and five touchdowns. He also played a big role in the passing game, catching 24 passes for 207 yards and another two scores.

Despite missing the second half of the season, Skattebo stayed around the team as he rehabbed his ankle, providing the sideline with the same energy he brought on the field prior to the injury.

"It sucked because you can't be out there to help," Skattebo told reporters on January 5. "When you can't do something to make sure that your team is in a better position to win or you can't contribute at all other than having the energy on the sidelines and making sure the guys in the building have a positive mindset, it's hard to be in that situation. But I tried to take it as best as I could."

A couple of weeks after his surgery, Skattebo made an appearance with some teammates on WWE 'Monday Night Raw' at Madison Square Garden. Skattebo had some back-and-forth banter during the skit, which led to him shoving wrestler JD McDonagh from behind a steel barrier and getting pushed back.

The appearance was all in fun and Skattebo was not actually put in harm's way. While Schoen did admit he would have preferred it if the injured back did not participate in the skit, the GM acknowledged that at the end of the day, Skatt is going to be Skatt.

"I was sitting on my couch at home, I had no idea what was going on and the agent called me," Schoen said about the WWE appearance. "I would rather him not do that, but as you guys that have been around Skatt (know), that's just who he is."

The running back certainly found his own ways to showcase his personality while injured. But he made it clear the day after the season ended that once he's healthy enough to get back on the field, the sole focus will turn back to football.

"Obviously, the main thing is football, so I'll get back to that when I'm ready to go. It's football from there on out," he said.

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