During the ongoing New York Giants organized team activities (OTAs), wide receiver Malik Nabers is currently sidelined due to a toe injury, raising questions about his readiness for the 2025 season. As veteran players and rookies engage in spring drills to prepare, Nabers’ absence is a notable setback for the Giants’ offensive depth in these critical early workouts.
The OTAs are progressing with key players like Jaxson Dart receiving significant snaps with the first-team offense, signaling a period of evaluation and development for both veterans and newcomers. While these practices emphasize conditioning and skill refinement, the sidelining of Nabers highlights the balance the Giants must maintain between player health and preparation.
Progress and Purpose of OTAs for Giants Players
The Giants’ spring program focuses primarily on getting players into football shape, reacquainting them with team tactics, training habits, and playbook adjustments, all while prioritizing injury prevention. Starting positions are not typically decided during these non-contact sessions; instead, the priority lies in reacclimatization and health preservation as the team prepares for the intensifying competition of training camp.
The offseason workouts involve drills such as 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11, designed to foster competitive opportunities without the risks that come with full contact. These controlled environments test player fitness and readiness as they vie for roles, with merit-based position battles beginning in earnest once training camp commences in late July.
Quarterback Competition and Snaps Distribution Insights
A major storyline emerging from the Giants’ OTAs is the quarterback competition involving Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart. The team has confirmed Wilson as the starting quarterback for the upcoming season, but Dart’s impressive college statistics, including the leading yards per pass attempt in 2024 at 10.8, have stirred speculation over whether he could challenge Wilson’s role during training camp and the preseason.
The extent of snaps allocated to each quarterback during these sessions provides a window into their readiness and the coaching staff’s assessment. While Dart is expected to begin the season as a backup, his performance in OTAs could increase pressure on Wilson, who himself once secured a starting spot under competitive circumstances with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012.
“The quarterback snaps distribution between Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart. The Giants have made it clear that veteran Russell Wilson will enter the 2025 season as the starting quarterback. However, is Wilson vulnerable to falling prey to losing his starting job to a rookie in the same way he took then-Seattle Seahawks free agent signee Matt Flynn’s job back in 2012? Jaxson Dart will likely start the year on the bench, but could college football’s yards per pass attempt leader (10.8) in 2024 make Wilson sweat in OTAs and training camp? Now is the time to monitor the first-team offense snaps at the quarterback position in New York.”
—Source Commentary
Veteran and Rookie Development Dynamics
Player development during OTAs is carefully managed, especially for rookies who need time to adjust to the NFL’s pace and complexity. The Giants aim to nurture this process without rushing, ensuring that newcomers like Dart and others progress adequately to contribute effectively in their first year, should they prove ready.
Veterans are pushed into competitive drills that stay within the non-contact realm, allowing coaches to test skill execution and adaptability while minimizing injury risk. This balance between competition and caution reflects a broader strategy to bring the team into peak form gradually, in hopes of sustaining performance throughout the demanding NFL season.
“What does urgency look like during non-contact spring practices featuring 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills? It looks like getting players in playing shape and keeping them healthy. It looks like practicing hard and to a line, just not across it. It looks like pushing players into competitive situations to create position battles. It looks like players getting more reps and winning those position battles on merit, not status or salary. It looks like developing the rookies at an appropriate pace to maximize their development and also their abilities to impact games in year one, if they prove capable. It looks like finding out specifically what Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart all can do in 11-on-11, even in practice.”
—Source Commentary
Generational Fan Appreciation and Player Ambitions
The Giants continue to engage a diverse fanbase that appreciates the team‘s legacy and championship aspirations. While some fans connect to past successes through stories and historical records, the current roster, particularly first-round rookies like Carter and Dart, carry silent ambitions centered on building future championship glory.
The pursuit of Lombardi trophies remains an unspoken but clearly understood objective for the new players, who understand the pressure and the spotlight that accompanies their participation during the offseason and into regular play.
“There is also a generation of fans whose appreciation for those championships is gained through history lessons from family members of days gone by and in videos on YouTube. And that is the target audience for Carter and Dart. There is nothing wrong with ambition, and neither first-round rookie has talked publicly about one day wearing gold jackets and putting another Lombardi in the trophy case. The goal is unspoken, relatively, yet clearly understood by those who appreciate how their presence will continue to command attention even as the offseason moves into OTAs with the veterans taking center stage this week.”
—Source Commentary
Additional Player Notes and Roster Updates
Beyond Nabers’ injury, several Giants players and prospects have drawn attention in these early team activities. Running back Tyron Tracy had a productive rookie season with 839 rushing yards and a 69.6 rushing grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), although his receiving stats were less notable, suggesting room for improvement.
Cornerbacks remain a focus with two Giants, including undrafted free agent O’Donnell Fortune from South Carolina, ranking among the top edge defenders for their strong performances in both man and zone coverage last college season. Their versatility offers the Giants valuable defensive depth, especially as the league increasingly favors zone schemes.
Meanwhile, contract projections for key players like Robinson indicate a potential two-year deal worth up to $13.2 million, positioning him among the league’s top-paid at his position. This financial commitment underlines the Giants’ intent to secure and develop critical talent as they build toward the upcoming season.
Rookie Stories and Veteran Reflections from OTAs
The Giants’ rookie class continues to navigate the transition to the NFL level, with individual stories underscoring the blend of humility and determination required. For example, rookie running back Cam Skattebo shared a humorous moment reflecting on his behavior prior to being drafted, illustrating the personal growth accompanying professional advancement.
“After I was drafted and they FaceTimed me I told them I’ll never be late again.”
—Cam Skattebo, New York Giants Running Back
Skattebo’s candid remark on the St. Brown Podcast highlights the seriousness with which rookies approach their second chances in the league, learning from past mistakes to solidify their roles on team rosters.
Looking Ahead: Implications for Giants’ 2025 Season
Malik Nabers’ current toe injury interrupts his participation in early Giants OTAs, but it is important to remember that offseason programs primarily focus on preparation rather than competition for starting roles. As the spring workouts give way to training camp in July, the pace and stakes will increase dramatically, with players vying more aggressively for positions.
The Giants’ management of player health during OTAs, along with the measured integration of rookies and the evaluation of quarterback snap allocations, signals a steady and methodical approach aimed at building a competitive roster for 2025. How quickly Nabers returns and contributes will be a factor in the team’s receiving depth, while the ongoing quarterback battles could influence the Giants’ offensive strategy throughout the year.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as training camp unfolds, with early OTAs offering clues but not definitive answers about who will emerge as key contributors on both sides of the ball.