Giants rookies Abdul Carter & Malik Nabers are electrifying 2025 training camp. See how Carter, Nabers, & Russell Wilson are bringing new hope after 2024.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
After the bleakness of a 3-14 season, a different energy is buzzing at Giants training camp. Forget the ghosts of 2024 for a moment. On Wednesday, the focus was squarely on the future, a future that looks incredibly bright thanks to two names on everyone's lips: Abdul Carter and Malik Nabers. The rookie duo is not just participating; they're dominating, providing a much-needed jolt of excitement as the team prepares for its first test.
Malik Nabers has been nearly unguardable in red zone drills, catching multiple touchdowns from Russell Wilson.
When you draft a player third overall, you expect an impact. Abdul Carter is delivering that and then some. The rookie edge rusher has been a nightmare for the Giants' offense, consistently winning his reps with an explosive first step and relentless motor. He's been living in the backfield, disrupting plays before they can even develop. For a defense that desperately needs a cornerstone pass rusher, Carter's early dominance is the best possible news and a sign that GM Joe Schoen may have hit a home run.
On the other side of the ball, a new dynamic duo is emerging. New starting quarterback Russell Wilson has found his favorite target in first-round receiver Malik Nabers. Their chemistry is palpable, especially in the red zone where Nabers has been a touchdown machine. Coaches highlighted one particular play on Wednesday—a perfectly timed out-route for a score—as proof of their growing anticipation. After years of offensive struggles, the prospect of a legitimate QB-WR1 connection is giving fans a reason to believe again.
While the rookie hype is real, so is the pressure. Head Coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen are squarely on the hot seat entering a pivotal year. The optimism in camp is tempered by the daunting reality of the season ahead. NFL analyst Ralph Vacchiano poured some cold water on the excitement, projecting a 6-11 finish for the Giants and citing the league's toughest strength of schedule. With a brutal early slate against 2024 playoff teams, a fast start is imperative, making these camp performances from key players all the more critical.
All eyes now turn to Saturday. The Giants travel to Highmark Stadium for their preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, offering the first real glimpse of this new-look team in game action. It will be our first chance to see if Abdul Carter's disruption translates against another team's starters and if the Wilson-to-Nabers connection is truly ready for prime time. For a team and a coaching staff with everything to prove, this isn't just an exhibition game; it's the first chapter of their potential redemption story.
