New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers left the field with shoulder-area pain during the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
It happened late in the 1st quarter of the Monday night NFL game on September 21.
Nabers returned, but that fact alone does not establish the severity of the injury.
3-line summary
1. Nabers returned after experiencing shoulder pain
2. He lined up again as the X receiver after two series
3. The return alone does not establish the severity of the injury
Nabers Stops After the Final Pass of the 1st Quarter
Nabers reported pain late in the 1st quarter of the Giants-Rams game while trying to catch a pass from backup quarterback Jameis Winston. The pass went over Nabers' head, with Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie nearby. Nabers bent over after landing and was also seen clutching his right arm.
USA Today reported that Nabers remained on the sideline with his return uncertain because of a right shoulder injury. Big Blue View reported that he showed signs of pain after getting tangled up with McDuffie on the final play of the 1st quarter, but that exactly what happened was not immediately confirmed.
Why He Returned After Two Series Matters More
Nabers reentered the game after missing two series. USA Today reported that he returned to his usual position at the line of scrimmage, the X receiver spot. NBC Sports also reported that Nabers returned on the very next offensive possession after leaving the field.
The Giants already had the variable of quarterback Jaxson Dart's knee injury. At the time of NBC Sports' report, the Giants were trailing the Rams 0-14, and a pass Winston threw toward Nabers was intercepted by McDuffie in front of the end zone. For a team in which Nabers plays a major role on offense, this was more than a simple substitution.
A Return Season After Last Year's Knee Injury
Nabers injured his right anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in the Los Angeles Chargers game in Week 4 of the 2025 season and missed most of last season. In this season's Week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys, he returned with 6 receptions for 69 yards.
Nabers' return in this Rams game shows, at least, that he was able to continue playing through the first half of that game. However, returning during a game does not explain the cause of the pain or his subsequent condition. What is certain from this scene is limited to the fact that Nabers briefly left with shoulder pain and then returned to play.
References
Tags #MalikNabers #NewYorkGiants #NFL #Rams #ShoulderInjury #JameisWinston #TrentMcDuffie #JaxsonDart #WideReceiver #MondayNightFootball #AmericanFootball