Giants revamp WR group as Nabers, Slayton rehab during minicamp

The New York Giants used mandatory minicamp in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to reshape their wide receiver depth chart, with new additions taking first-team reps while Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton continued injury rehabilitation. Head coach John Harbaugh said the team has “stocked the room” with competition after an offseason focused on upgrading the position group.

The on-field picture in June, he indicated, will be influenced most by how quickly the injured starters can return and build toward full speed.

The Giants remain hopeful Nabers can work his way back from a torn ACL in time for Week 1. Slayton, who had core muscle surgery earlier in the offseason, is expected back for the start of training camp.

With those two sidelined, the first-team wide receivers at minicamp were free-agent additions Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III, along with third-round pick Malachi Fields. All three were not on the roster last season, highlighting the scale of the club’s turnover at the position.

The urgency increased after receiver/returner Gunner Olszewski tore an Achilles last week, further thinning depth. The Giants responded earlier this month by adding veterans Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios within a few hours of each other.

Harbaugh said the players he feels strongest about, once healthy, are Nabers, Slayton, Mooney, Austin and Fields. Assuming all five are available, that likely leaves room for one more wide receiver spot, and possibly two if Nabers is not ready at the start of the season.

Roster battle behind the projected core

Harbaugh framed the offseason moves as a deliberate push to intensify competition for the final places on the depth chart. With Nabers and Slayton expected to factor into the regular-season plan if healthy, the key question becomes which receivers separate themselves when roles shift from practice reps to game situations.

Other receivers listed as competing for spots include Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah Hodgins, Beaux Collins, Dalen Cambre, Ryan Miller and Xavier Gipson. Hyatt drew attention during minicamp as a player who had at times been overlooked, but he put together a strong week of practices to stay in the mix as the Giants sort out roles.

The numbers game could be affected by health timelines. If Nabers returns later than hoped, it would open a path for an extra receiver to make the roster or earn a larger early-season role.

Beckham stands out, but durability remains the question

Beckham, who played for the Giants from 2014 to 2017, was one of the more noticeable players in minicamp practices. He got behind the defense on a busted coverage for a deep completion from quarterback Jaxson Dart and later secured a contested catch roughly 15 yards downfield.

The central question around Beckham is whether he can stay healthy, given his recent injury history. During the first two intense practice days, he appeared to get nicked up briefly on multiple occasions before continuing.

Smith-Schuster showed well early in minicamp before cooling off, while Berrios’ roster case could hinge on preseason performance and his punt-return value. Harbaugh also cautioned that even when Nabers returns to practice he will be “building,” indicating the club may have to manage expectations about how quickly he reaches peak form.

The next checkpoint comes when the Giants transition from minicamp to training camp, where Nabers’ availability and Slayton’s return to full work are expected to shape both the depth chart and final roster decisions.