Editor’s note: Malik Nabers will play on Thursday night despite earlier reports.
New York Giants fans who are anxious to see rookie sensation Malik Nabers will have to wait at least one more week.
Nabers, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is among a group of starters not expected to play on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium. He will be joined by quarterback Daniel Jones and others.
As noted on @SportsCenter just now: Most Giants starters, including quarterback Daniel Jones and rookie WR Malik Nabers, are not expected to play tonight in their preseason opener against the Lions, per sources.
They had two intense joint-practices with the Lions this week.…
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 8, 2024
Earlier in the week, head coach Brian Daboll skirted questions about who would play against the Lions.
“We’ll talk about that tomorrow night,” Daboll told reporters on Tuesday.
Jones, who is returning from a neck injury and a torn ACL, expressed a desire to play but the Giants obviously chose to err on the side of caution.
“Yeah, I’d like to play. I think, at the end of the day, that’s the coach’s decision, and I’ll do whatever Dabes thinks,” Jones said. “I think you try to make practice as game-like as possible and get real game speed reps in practice and make sure you’re ready to go. So regardless of what Dabes decides for this coming game, I’ll be ready to go when I get my chance.”
Like the Giants, Detroit is also expected to rest most of their starters, including quarterback Jared Goff.
