New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers took another significant step in his recovery from a season-ending right knee injury Monday, practicing without a red non-contact jersey for the first time this summer.

Nabers is working back from a torn ACL and meniscus and underwent an additional cleanup procedure in May to address residual scar tissue and stiffness. His recent progress has increased optimism about his availability for the start of the 2026 season.

Malik Nabers Takes Next Step in ACL Recovery

Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Monday was a strong practice for Nabers and that the receiver was "probably moving the best we've seen him look" since returning to the field.

When asked whether that progress means Nabers will be available for Week 1, Harbaugh stopped short of making a definitive declaration.

"I don't want to make any kind of statements like that," Harbaugh said. "It's reasonable to assume that. Those are all kinds of things you can assume just based on watching the guy practice."

Pro Football Doc: Second Surgery Appears to Have Helped Nabers

Pro Football Doc acknowledged that Nabers is ahead of where he expected him to be at this point in his ACL recovery.

"Is he outperforming where we thought he would be? Yes," Pro Football Doc said.

The biggest factor in that progress may be the second procedure Nabers underwent in May. Pro Football Doc believes the debridement helped improve his movement and accelerate his rehabilitation.

"The best thing I can think of that happened is that the second surgery really helped him," Pro Football Doc said. "It helped accelerate his motion and progress."

Despite the encouraging developments, Pro Football Doc cautioned that Nabers is not at the finish line yet in his recovery.

Will Malik Nabers Play Week 1?

Nabers has not officially been cleared for Week 1, but his ability to practice without the non-contact jersey represents another positive step toward being available for the season opener.

Harbaugh called a Week 1 return a reasonable assumption based on how Nabers is currently practicing, while Pro Football Doc remains more cautious despite acknowledging that the receiver has progressed better than expected.

Nabers is trending toward Week 1, but his availability has not yet been confirmed.