Giants receiver Malik Nabers could miss Saints game after MRI confirms hip flexor

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Dec 6, 2024

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — The Giants may have to host the Saints on Sunday without their top offensive weapon, too.

Rookie receiver Malik Nabers has a hip flexor, underwent an MRI on Friday morning and is in jeopardy of possibly missing the Week 14 home game, head coach Brian Daboll said. Nabers is officially listed as questionable and did not practice Friday at all.

“They’re not ruling him out right now,” Daboll said.

Nabers, 21, got hurt during the 1-on-1 portion of Thursday’s practice. He was listed as limited with a groin injury but then underwent further testing that revealed the new hip injury, according to the coach.

Dexter Lawrence, the Giants’ top defensive player, is already out for the season with an elbow injury. Top left Andrew Thomas (foot) is done for the season. Top linebacker Bobby Okereke (back) is week-to-week. Daniel Jones is on the Vikings.

And now Nabers may be joining the long list of Giants players unable to stay on the field during the stretch of this horrific season.

“We wish we had Dexter and Andrew Thomas and those guys, but we don’t,” Daboll said. “That’s the reality of the NFL. So they’re looking forward to the opportunity, which will be a big challenge.”

The Giants (2-10) have lost seven straight games and are 0-6 at MetLife Stadium. The Saints (4-8) already fired their coach Dennis Allen, and New Orleans is 0-3 in outdoor games, 1-4 on the road and 0-4 in their last four away games. But they’re still 4.5-point favorites.

Interim Saints head coach Darren Rizzi, a native of Hillsdale, N.J., said this week that his team was flying to the area on Friday to do a walkthrough in the elements to prepare the players for the cold weather.

New Orleans lost dual threat quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill (knee) for the season last Sunday, but otherwise, they’re down backup guard Nick Saldiveri (knee) and wideout Bub Means (ankle). And defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon (Achilles) and running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) are questionable.

The Giants’ injury report is comparably bleak.

Top corner Deonte Banks (rib), Lawrence and defensive tackle Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (neck/shoulder) and Okereke (back) are all out. Defensive tackle D.J. Davidson (shoulder) and offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) are doubtful.

And six players are questionable: Nabers, offensive tackles Evan Neal (hip) and Chris Hubbard (knee), defensive tackle Jordon Riley (knee), corner Dru Phillips (shoulder) and linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle). Hubbard and Phillips did not practice Friday, either.