The Athletic asked its NFL writers to think big with one 2026 prediction per team. Charlotte Carroll's forecast is that New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers will win Comeback Player of the Year.
Nabers’ second season ended in Week 4 with a torn ACL and meniscus. He had 18 receptions for 271 yards and two scores in four games after posting 1,204 yards as a rookie. He has worked back through camp and team drills ahead of the September 13 opener against Dallas, with his Week 1 status still unsettled.
Carroll’s argument is that Nabers remains central to New York’s offense and to Jaxson Dart’s growth.
New York Giants: Malik Nabers will win Comeback Player of the Year
Aaron Donald’s return might throw this prediction for a loop. But Nabers is just
so important to the Giants’ success and quarterback Jaxson Dart’s development. The third-year wide receiver brings such a different element to the New York offense. While you never know how a player will respond coming off a major injury, if Nabers can return even somewhat to form, it’ll be huge for the Giants. His presence alone attracts so much defensive attention, it opens up space for his teammates. As Nabers said, “I feel like when I get out there, I feel like I’ll be better than what I was before.”
A healthy Nabers forces defenses to account for him and opens space for everyone else. He and Dart shared only a brief stretch of snaps before the injury. If he returns close to form, New York gains the downfield piece it has been missing.
Carroll notes Aaron Donald’s return could scramble the award race. She still frames Nabers as the Giants’ most important offensive variable. His own outlook is that he will be better than before.
The season will decide whether that becomes an award.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: The Athletic: Giants' Malik Nabers will win Comeback Player of the Year
