New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers injured his right shoulder during the team’s Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, briefly leaving the game in obvious pain before surprisingly returning a short time later.
After the game, Nabers revealed what happened: he said his shoulder “popped out” and that he “popped it back in.” He described the shoulder as feeling OK but said he was scheduled to undergo an X-ray to determine whether there was additional damage.
That description strongly points to some form of shoulder instability event, but as of the morning of September 22, 2026, the Giants have publicly identified the problem only as a shoulder injury. They have not announced whether Nabers suffered a complete dislocation, a partial dislocation known as a subluxation, a labrum injury or another structural problem.
What Happened to Malik Nabers’ Shoulder?
Malik Nabers hurt his right shoulder late in the first quarter of the Giants’ 28-6 loss to the Rams on Monday Night Football.
Nabers was attempting to make a contested catch while covered by Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie. Immediately after the incomplete pass, Nabers grabbed his right shoulder and upper arm and went toward the sideline in considerable pain. [AP] [Sportsnet]
Giants trainers examined him on the sideline, and the team initially announced that Nabers was questionable to return.
Despite how painful the injury appeared, Nabers returned during the second quarter and finished the game. [NBC Sports]
Did Malik Nabers Dislocate His Shoulder?
Nabers’ own description suggests that his shoulder came out of its normal position, but the Giants have not yet announced a specific diagnosis.
After the game, Nabers told reporters:
“It popped out, and I just popped it back in.”
He also said his shoulder was “OK” and that he would undergo an X-ray. [Yahoo Sports]
That does not by itself establish whether Nabers suffered a complete shoulder dislocation or a subluxation.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a complete dislocation occurs when the joint surfaces completely separate. A partial dislocation, called a subluxation, occurs when the ball of the upper arm bone only partially comes out of the shoulder socket. A subluxed shoulder can also move back into place on its own. [AAOS]
Until the Giants release results of Nabers’ examination and imaging, describing the injury more specifically than a shoulder instability event would go beyond the confirmed information.
Did Malik Nabers Really Pop His Own Shoulder Back In?
That is how Nabers described the incident after the game.
He told reporters that the shoulder popped out and that he put it back into position himself before eventually returning to play. [Yahoo Sports]
A shoulder returning to its normal position is known medically as a reduction. Shoulder instability injuries can sometimes reduce quickly, especially a partial dislocation or subluxation.
However, the fact that a shoulder goes back into place does not necessarily mean nothing was damaged. Ligaments, the shoulder capsule, cartilage called the labrum and other structures can be injured when the humeral head moves out of the socket. [AAOS]
Why Did Malik Nabers Return to the Game?
Nabers said he wanted to continue playing because quarterback Jaxson Dart had already been lost to a knee injury.
According to Nabers, he did not want the Giants to lose another major offensive player during the same game. [Yahoo Sports]
Nabers was examined by the Giants’ medical staff before returning.
His ability to play again that night is encouraging, but it does not by itself establish the severity of the injury. Shoulder instability can allow an athlete to regain useful movement relatively quickly while still leaving damage that becomes clearer through imaging and follow-up examination.
What Is the Difference Between a Shoulder Dislocation and Subluxation?
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint. The rounded head of the humerus fits into a shallow socket called the glenoid.
A complete shoulder dislocation occurs when the ball comes entirely out of the socket.
A shoulder subluxation occurs when it comes only partially out before returning to position.
The AAOS notes that a subluxation can be less obvious than a complete dislocation because the bones may move back into place and the shoulder can appear relatively normal afterward. [AAOS]
Both injuries can stretch or tear the structures responsible for stabilizing the shoulder.
Could Malik Nabers Have Torn His Labrum?
It is possible after a shoulder instability injury, but there is currently no report that Nabers has a torn labrum.
The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the shoulder socket that helps stabilize the joint.
When the upper arm bone is forced out of the socket, the labrum can be damaged. One common injury associated with an anterior shoulder dislocation is a Bankart lesion, which is a tear involving the labrum at the front of the shoulder socket. [AAOS]
An X-ray is useful for identifying fractures and checking bone alignment, but soft-tissue injuries involving the labrum, ligaments or tendons may require an MRI or other imaging if doctors believe further testing is necessary.
There has been no announcement that Nabers requires an MRI or that any such damage has been discovered.
Why Is Malik Nabers Getting an X-Ray?
Nabers said after the game that an X-ray was planned.
Doctors commonly use X-rays after a suspected shoulder dislocation to evaluate the bones around the shoulder and check for associated fractures or other bone injuries. [AAOS]
An X-ray cannot provide the same detailed view of the shoulder’s soft tissues that an MRI can.
Therefore, even a normal X-ray would not necessarily answer every question about the condition of Nabers’ labrum, ligaments and other stabilizing structures.
Were Malik Nabers’ X-Rays Negative?
No X-ray result had been publicly announced as of the morning of September 22, 2026.
The most recent postgame reporting said Nabers was scheduled to undergo imaging after saying that his shoulder had popped out during the game. [Yahoo Sports]
Any report claiming a specific structural diagnosis or recovery timetable before those results are announced should therefore be treated cautiously.
How Long Could Malik Nabers Be Out?
The Giants have not announced that Nabers will miss any games.
There is currently no official return timetable because the exact diagnosis and extent of the injury have not been announced.
Recovery from a shoulder instability episode varies significantly depending on whether the injury was a subluxation or full dislocation, whether there was associated tissue damage and whether the joint remains stable afterward.
A study of NFL players who suffered in-season shoulder instability injuries found that players treated without surgery frequently returned during the same season. In that historical group, the median return was zero weeks after a subluxation and three weeks following a complete dislocation. However, recurrence was common, with 47 percent of players experiencing another instability event. Those numbers describe a group of NFL players studied over previous seasons and should not be treated as a prediction of Nabers’ recovery. [PubMed]
The results of Nabers’ imaging, his pain level, strength, range of motion and shoulder stability will provide much more useful information about his individual status.
Will Malik Nabers Play in Week 3?
His Week 3 status has not yet been determined.
The Giants are scheduled to play the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 27, giving Nabers a shorter-than-normal recovery period after playing on Monday night.
His return to the Rams game is an encouraging sign, but the Giants’ practice reports later in the week should provide the first useful indication of whether the shoulder will affect his availability.
If Nabers practices fully and does not receive a game designation, that would point toward him playing. Limited practices, missed practices or a questionable designation would indicate that the shoulder remains an issue.
Could Malik Nabers Wear a Shoulder Brace?
Potentially, although the Giants have not announced any plan for Nabers to wear one.
Athletes returning from shoulder instability sometimes use braces designed to restrict the shoulder from entering positions that make another dislocation more likely.
The AAOS notes that braces may be used by some people who continue to experience instability, although treatment depends on the specific injury. [AAOS]
For a wide receiver, any brace would have to balance protection with the range of motion required to extend the arms, reach overhead and make contested catches.
Why Can a Shoulder Dislocation Be a Problem for a Wide Receiver?
Wide receivers repeatedly place their shoulders in vulnerable positions.
Nabers needs to extend his arms above and away from his body, absorb contact from defensive backs, land on the shoulder and secure the football while being tackled.
A shoulder that remains unstable can therefore present problems even if the player can run normally.
The principal concerns after a shoulder instability injury include pain, weakness, reduced range of motion and the possibility that the shoulder comes out of place again. The AAOS notes that a shoulder that has already dislocated is at increased risk for recurrent instability. [AAOS]
Has Malik Nabers Hurt His Shoulder Before?
Nabers has dealt with previous shoulder issues during his Giants career, although there is not enough public information to say that those injuries were the same as the one he suffered against the Rams.
During 2025 training camp, Nabers briefly left a practice with a shoulder problem. Giants coach Brian Daboll said shortly afterward that Nabers was OK and returned him to practice. [Giants]
Nabers also appeared on the Giants’ injury report with a shoulder issue in September 2025 after landing on his shoulder while attempting a deep pass. [NBC Sports]
Public reports have not established whether either previous problem involved a dislocation or whether they affected the same structures involved in the 2026 injury.
Was This Malik Nabers’ First Game Back From His ACL Injury?
No. The Rams game was Nabers’ second game back after missing most of the previous season with a torn ACL.
Nabers tore his ACL during a September 28, 2025 game against the Los Angeles Chargers and missed the remainder of the season. [Giants]
He completed his rehabilitation in time to return for the Giants’ 2026 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Nabers practiced fully during the week before that game and was ultimately active. [Giants]
He caught six passes for 69 yards in his return.
How Did Malik Nabers Play After Returning Against the Rams?
Nabers had only one reception for one yard in the Giants’ loss.
That catch came before the shoulder injury, and he did not record another reception after returning to the field. [Yahoo Sports]
The lack of production cannot be attributed solely to the shoulder. Starting quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury on New York’s opening possession and did not return, leaving Jameis Winston to run an offense that struggled for the remainder of the game.
The Giants finished with only six points in the 28-6 loss. [Reuters]
Why Is Malik Nabers’ Injury So Important to the Giants?
Nabers is the centerpiece of New York’s receiving corps.
As a rookie in 2024, he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns despite playing only 15 games.
His 109 receptions established a Giants single-season franchise record and were, at the time, the most ever by a rookie wide receiver. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl. [Giants]
The Giants then lost most of the Dart-Nabers combination in 2025 when Nabers tore his ACL shortly after Dart took over at quarterback.
Keeping both players healthy in 2026 was therefore central to New York’s plans for developing its offense.
What Did Malik Nabers Say About His Shoulder?
Nabers sounded relatively optimistic after the game despite acknowledging that the shoulder had come out of place.
He said the shoulder felt OK, explained that it popped out and back in, and said doctors would perform an X-ray to see exactly what was going on. [Yahoo Sports]
That is encouraging compared with the possibility of an obvious major injury, but the medical evaluation matters more than Nabers’ ability to finish the game.
Malik Nabers Shoulder Injury Timeline
- September 21, 2026: Nabers attempts a contested pass late in the first quarter against the Rams and immediately grabs his right shoulder. [AP]
- September 21: The Giants announce that Nabers is questionable to return with a shoulder injury.
- Second quarter: Nabers returns to the game after being examined by team medical personnel. [NBC Sports]
- Postgame: Nabers says the shoulder “popped out” and that he put it back in. He says his shoulder feels OK but that he will undergo an X-ray. [Yahoo Sports]
- September 22: No detailed diagnosis or return timetable has yet been announced publicly.
- September 27: The Giants are scheduled to play the Tennessee Titans in Week 3.
Malik Nabers Shoulder Injury FAQ
What happened to Malik Nabers?
Nabers injured his right shoulder while attempting a contested catch against the Los Angeles Rams. He said afterward that the shoulder popped out and that he put it back into place.
Which shoulder did Malik Nabers injure?
He injured his right shoulder. [AP]
Did Malik Nabers dislocate his shoulder?
Nabers’ description is consistent with a shoulder instability event, but the Giants have not yet publicly specified whether it was a complete dislocation or partial dislocation, also called a subluxation.
Did Malik Nabers pop his shoulder back into place?
Yes. That is what Nabers told reporters after the game. [Yahoo Sports]
Did Malik Nabers return to the game?
Yes. He returned during the second quarter after initially being listed as questionable.
Did Malik Nabers catch another pass after the injury?
No. He finished with one reception for one yard, which came before he injured the shoulder.
Are Malik Nabers’ X-rays negative?
No result had been announced publicly as of the morning of September 22. Nabers said after the game that he was going to have an X-ray.
Does Malik Nabers need surgery?
There is currently no report that Nabers needs surgery. The exact diagnosis has not yet been announced.
How long will Malik Nabers be out?
There is no official recovery timetable. Nabers returned to the Rams game, but his imaging and subsequent examination will determine whether the shoulder causes him to miss additional time.
Will Malik Nabers play against the Titans?
His Week 3 status is currently uncertain. The Giants’ practice reports and any medical update later in the week should provide more information.
Is Malik Nabers’ shoulder injury season-ending?
There is currently no indication that it is a season-ending injury. Nabers returned to the game after hurting the shoulder, but further testing is needed before the severity can be established.
Has Malik Nabers injured his shoulder before?
He has dealt with shoulder issues during previous Giants practices and games, including in 2025, but there is no confirmed public information showing that those injuries were identical to this one.
Last updated: September 22, 2026. This page should be updated when the Giants release Nabers’ X-ray results, a specific diagnosis, his Week 3 practice participation or an official game designation.
