Don’t expect Malik Nabers to return any time soon for the New York Giants. The player suffered a torn ACL early in the season, during a game at MetLife Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4.
#Giants HC Brian Daboll said WR Malik Nabers has not yet undergone surgery for the torn ACL he suffered on September 29.
Presumably the procedure will take place once the swelling subsides enough for surgery. pic.twitter.com/vaDCMPBsoc
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 23, 2025
Now, coach Brian Daboll has revealed that the player hasn’t even been able to undergo surgery yet, a month later. The swelling is still too great for the procedure to go ahead. This makes his timeline for recovery for next season even doubtful, as ACL recoveries are known to be difficult. However, anything at this point is speculation.
Daboll said Malik Nabers hasn’t had his surgery yet. My understanding is they’re still waiting for swelling to go down. Expect the surgery within the next week or so.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) October 23, 2025
The expectation is that the surgery can take place in the next week or so.
Malik Nabers’ injury revives concerns about the safety of MetLife Stadium
Nabers’ injury revived concerns about the safety of the artificial turf at MetLife Stadium. A high number of ACL and Achilles heel tears have occurred at MetLife, and many point to the artificial turf as the culprit. Since the start of the 2020 season, some 16 such injuries have occurred at the venue, which certainly points to something going on there. Whether correlation implies causation remains to be seen in this case.
Dear @NFL , I mean this with the upmost love and respect. We (The NFL) take all The precautions in the world with EVERYthing else when it comes to players “health” and “safety”. PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE 🤬 TURF. Thank You in advance. LUV
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) September 29, 2025
The list includes the likes of Nick Bosa and Aaron Rodgers. Someone who definitely blamed the turf for Malik Nabers’ injury was former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who suffered a major ankle injury there in 2017. He jumped on X to demand that the NFL stop allowing turf to be used in its stadiums.
Turf will be temporarily removed at MetLife and other NFL stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA doesn’t allow artificial turf to be used at its tournaments. It remains to be seen if the temporary change to natural grass sticks and becomes permanent at the World Cup stadiums.
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