Giants WR Malik Nabers Trending in Right Direction for Sunday

Nabers is heading toward being cleared for Sunday's game against the Eagles, but two key defenders remain out of practice.

Patricia Traina

Updated: Oct 17, 2024 / 01:15 PM EDT

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs for yards after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

New York Giants star receiver Malik Nabers (concussion protocol) continues to trend in the right direction toward a return, head coach Brian Daboll said Thursday before the team’s practice.

Nabers was set to partake in a full practice on Thursday. If all went well, he was then scheduled to meet with an independent neurologist later in the day to receive final clearance to return to game action this Sunday when the Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles.

Meanwhile, despite their insistence on Wednesday that they will play on Sunday, both defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (hip) and outside linebacker Brian Burns (groin) were held out of their second day of practice.

Lawrence told reporters on Wednesday that he was fine and just being held out for a little rest, but with his workload increased form 67% last year to 79% this year (second highest percentage of his career), it’s clear the wear and tear is necessitating the Giants manage LAwrence’s workload during the week so he’s available for game day.

Burns’s groin issue, which first popped up in Week 2, is something of a concern. The outside linebacker has been valiantly fighting through the injury and doing everything possible to not miss a snap.

Thus far he’s played in 85% of the Giants defensive snaps this year, his second highest percentage of his career. It’s also the third straight season that Burns is playing in at least 80% of the defensive snaps, dating back to his time with the Carolina Panthers.

Daboll also said that cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (neck) is a new addition to the team’s injury report and was not scheduled to practice Thursday. If Jackson can’t play Sunday, that will leave the Giants thin at cornerback.

Check back later for the full Giants and Eagles injury reports.