EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Standout New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers participated Monday in full-speed live drills for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury Week 4 of last season.
Nabers ran four routes in 11-on-11 drills and then caught passes on all three of his reps in 7-on-7 while wearing a red no-contact jersey usually reserved for quarterbacks. It wasn't perfect, but coach John Harbaugh said it was an "important" step in the progression -- even if it was in shorts and shoulder pads.
The Giants and Nabers have 27 days until the Sept. 13 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Things are trending in the right direction barring a setback.
"It was good, felt good," Nabers said. "Felt good getting some team reps, getting out there, catching the football."
When Nabers was done with the live drills he walked with a trainer to a side field, where he ran extra routes.
Nabers described the inclusion in live drills as his latest "milestone." It meant something to the 23-year-old receiver to be back playing football.
"My soul has been dead for so long just being away from the game," he said. "So, just getting out there and having my teammates behind me kind of felt that soul come back to life out there."
The question now is will he be ready for the Giants' Week 1 Sunday night game against the Cowboys? The Giants are cautiously optimistic.
"Like I said, to that question, the most important thing is my health," Nabers said. "And the most important thing is just completing every milestone that they have in front of me, giving good effort, continue to come out here, be a great teammate to my teammates ... just leading every day and just continue to take that milestone day by day."
When asked directly if he's on track for Week 1, Nabers deferred to Harbaugh. So naturally the coach was asked.
"I think you just have to go with the process," Harbaugh said. "I mean, you really can't say. You can hope. Sure I hope he's out there. I'm praying for it, certainly. But we'll see."
Nabers has been on the field since the start of training camp. But he has primarily participated only in individual drills. This was his first opportunity to go against cornerbacks in a full-speed setting.
The second-year receiver stumbled on one rep and at times seemed to be favoring the affected right leg, which had the ACL and meniscus repaired last October. Nabers needed another procedure earlier this year to relieve stiffness and remove scar tissue.
The results Monday were overall still encouraging.
"He looked good. He was in the team periods. He was in the no-contact jersey. Guys did a good job respecting that and everything," Harbaugh said. "And I hope he catches. It was a good start. ...
"I don't think he's full speed yet or anything. But I thought he looked good."
At one point early in practice, Nabers said his teammates told him to pace himself, calm down. Harbaugh and the Giants players acknowledged the were watching him closely.
Nabers is just trying to take it all in stride.
"I'm listening to my body as much as possible," he said. "I mean, I only know what I feel and I'm explaining that to the training staff. And I think they're taking that into consideration and just asking me questions, asking me, do I feel like doing more? Asking me, do I feel like I'm doing too much? So, I'm in a healthy spot and just continue to just add more reps as I go practice to practice."
The Giants will be back in full pads Tuesday before a joint practice later in the week with the Miami Dolphins.