Malik Nabers’ sprained left ankle might not even keep him out of Saturday’s game in Houston.
The Giants’ No. 6 overall pick was a full participant in Thursday’s practice which amounted to a full dress rehearsal for Brian Daboll’s starters from Daniel Jones on down.
Nabers did grab at the back of his right thigh after opening up the right sideline on a jet sweep and walked slowly back behind the offensive huddle. But he continued practicing, running routes and making a catch during the jog-through. So perhaps it was just a cramp instead of muscle tightness.
He had started the practice with a leaping, one-handed catch on a throw by receivers coach Mike Groh during warmups, demonstrating that the injury he sustained in last Sunday’s practice isn’t as serious as initially believed.
It would seem prudent to hold Nabers out of the game to ensure he is fully healthy for the Giants’ regular season opener Sept. 8 in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. And staying healthy is the priority, in Nabers’ own words this week, so it would seemingly be risky if he actually suited up.
Still, Daboll said there is “definitely a chance” that Nabers plays in the Giants’ second of three preseason games.
Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., meanwhile, appears to have miraculously escaped a long-term injury despite Tuesday’s trip to the Hospital of Special Surgery. The diagnosis is a right ankle sprain, and he wasn’t even wearing a boot as he did running and cutting with trainers on the side Thursday.
He’ll be sidelined, though. And it appears starting left guard Jon Runyan Jr. (shoulder) will, too. He did limited work on the side and didn’t practice.
Tight end Tyree Jackson, meanwhile, threw his helmet in disgust after injuring himself diving for a catch on a low Tommy DeVito pass during Thursday’s practice.
Jackson is supposed to be the Giants’ emergency third quarterback, in Daboll’s own words, with backup Drew Lock (hip) hurt and not practicing. So it’s not clear if the Giants really intend to go into Saturday’s game with only two healthy quarterbacks and Lock as a potential option if he’s needed, or if they’ll finally just add a QB just in case.
