(Photo: MassLive)
Louisiana State University—better known as LSU to many of you—is the place where elite wide receivers are born and then sent to the National Football League. Odell Beckham Jr. was a Tiger, and he became one of the most exciting players in the NFL during his time with the New York Giants. Jarvis Landry was another, along with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, who both caught passes from Joe Burrow during LSU’s title-winning season in 2019–20. It’s sometimes hard to believe that those two were on the same team—and look at what they’ve each become in the NFL today. Last season, LSU sent two more future star receivers to the league: Brian Thomas Jr., who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Malik Nabers, who was selected sixth overall by the New York Giants. The Giants won their first game of the year yesterday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but unfortunately lost their star rookie receiver to a knee injury. Today, it was revealed that Malik tore his ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season.
In his rookie campaign with the Giants, Malik proved the stage wasn’t too big for him. He showed out and gave Giants fans a glimpse of what’s to come in the years ahead. Despite his youth, he possesses that “it factor”—something I’ve seen in many great players around the league. You either have it or you don’t, and Malik was definitely born with it. The first thing you notice about him is his athleticism—he’s always moving. Malik catches nearly everything thrown his way and is excellent with the ball in his hands after the catch, a key trait for any receiver in the YAC (Yards After Catch) department. At just six feet tall, he’s far more physical than he gets credit for. That often surprises people, as smaller receivers are typically more shifty in space—and Malik certainly is—but if you try to jam him at the line, he’s strong enough to handle it. I remember during his LSU days, Malik played more in the slot. Now, in the NFL, he lines up wide on the perimeter. But I don’t think it matters to him where he plays—just get him the football and let him work. He’s a confident player, eager to soak up knowledge and always looking for ways to improve. Malik also plays with a kind of toughness that you simply can’t teach. What makes his rookie season even more impressive is that he played with multiple quarterbacks and still recorded 1,204 receiving yards. I was looking forward to seeing what he could do with Jaxson Dart, as that will more than likely be the future tandem that carries the Giants’ offense for years to come.
I know injuries are part of the game, but it’s always tough to see players give it their all on the field, only to have their season cut short. MetLife Stadium has a well-known turf issue, and this isn’t the first injury to happen there. Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in 2023 on that field. Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas each suffered season-ending injuries there in 2020—and that’s just to name a few. Now, we can add Malik to that list. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery.
