In the modern-day Meadowlands, hope and devastation go hand in hand. Although the New York Giants earned a euphoric 21-18 win versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, they lost their most talented offensive player. Malik Nabers, as expected, tore his ACL and is done for the season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The electric wide receiver went down after attempting to catch a pass from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in the second quarter. He is the franchise's best pass-catcher since Odell Beckham Jr., and just like his fellow former LSU star, Nabers suffered a brutal injury inside MetLife Stadium. The pleas to swap out turf for grass are growing louder, as Giants fans watch another difference-making player land on the shelf for a lengthy period of time.
There was palpable excitement surrounding the team's young QB-WR duo, and now that will brutally have to be put on pause. Nabers recorded two receptions for 20 yards in a small sample size with Dart. The offense's long-term ceiling is directly tied to their connection, so, in addition to the obviously significant impact it has on the individual, this news is gut-wrenching for the entire Big Blue community.
Once New York started 0-3 and officially benched Russell Wilson for the former Ole Miss signal-caller, the focus once again shifted to development. Fulfilling that goal becomes extremely difficult without Nabers. The wide receiver room was already worryingly thin. Giants head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will have to employ some creativity in order to put a sufficient amount of points on the board moving forward.
Malik Nabers has his own arduous challenge ahead. Following a summer rife with nagging injuries, he will now undergo surgery and mentally prepare himself for a long recovery process. Hopefully, when the 22-year-old does come back, New York will have a solid foundation in place. Nabers finishes his second NFL campaign with 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
