Giants Gear Up for New Era With Harbaugh, OBJ Return and Nabers Uncertainty
Finn's Take· TL;DR- John Harbaugh era begins with Giants facing Cowboys; OBJ returns after suspension but productivity uncertain entering Week 1.
- Malik Nabers' ACL recovery status remains unclear heading into opener, forcing reliance on young QB Jaxson Dart and unproven receiving depth.
- Giants exploit vulnerable Cowboys pass defense that allowed most yards and TDs last season in potential statement-making season opener.
A New Chapter Begins at MetLife
The New York Giants are just one week away from kicking off what could be their most anticipated season in years. The Giants prepare for their Week 1 matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, scheduled for September 13 — and the buzz surrounding this team is unlike anything Big Blue fans have felt in a long time. There is tremendous optimism surrounding the New York Giants entering 2026. They have an accomplished head coach in John Harbaugh who has raised the bar, and a roster that has been reshaped.
It will be the first game of the Harbaugh era, and OBJ will run out of the tunnel wearing number 13 as a Giant for the first time in eight years. Odell Beckham Jr., 33, signed June 1 and is back in No. 13. He did not play in 2025 while serving a six-game suspension for a failed performance-enhancing drug test, and had just 9 catches for 55 yards in 9 games with Miami in 2024. His return is a feel-good story, but whether he can still produce at a high level remains to be seen.
The Nabers Question Looms Large
The biggest storyline heading into the opener is the health of star wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers is still not confirmed for the Giants' September 13 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee on September 28, 2025, and had surgery in late October. The Giants have been cautiously optimistic, but nothing is guaranteed.
Coach Harbaugh revealed that Nabers will need to take some contact to be cleared to play in the Giants' Week 1 Sunday Night Football home game against the rival Dallas Cowboys on September 13. Harbaugh said, "We've got to plan for every outcome." If Nabers can't go, the pressure falls squarely on second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart to carry the offense — and on a receiving corps that, while interesting, lacks proven depth.
Dart, the Roster, and the Road Ahead
Dart enters the season with momentum despite a quiet preseason. He threw for 2,272 yards on a 63.7% completion rate with 15 touchdowns against 5 interceptions as a rookie, then added 487 rushing yards and 9 rushing scores on the ground. Despite going almost a month without live-game reps, the second-year quarterback says practicing against the Giants' defense has him ready for the regular-season opener.
The Giants finalized their 53-man roster ahead of the season, and it features some notable names and a few surprises. The Giants will carry four tight ends on the initial 53-man roster, and all seven picks in the Giants' 2026 draft class made the roster in addition to a pair of undrafted rookies. New York also added veteran linebacker Malik Harrison to the practice squad, with the team releasing defensive tackle Ben Barten to make room. Meanwhile, Braxton Berrios was one of the more surprising cuts, but it was almost immediately reported that he would be back. Since he's a vested veteran, he's not subject to the waiver wire, meaning he can re-sign with the Giants whenever. The plan was to add him to the practice squad and elevate him to the active roster before kickoff — and Berrios officially re-signed and is on the Giants' practice squad.
High Stakes Against a Familiar Rival
The Cowboys make for a fitting opponent to open this new chapter, even if the history isn't kind. The last time the Giants and Cowboys met in a season-opener was 2023, a game Dallas won 40-0. That humiliation feels like a lifetime ago given how much has changed in New York. Dallas gave up 4,276 passing yards last season, the most in the league, and 35 passing touchdowns — a stat that should have Giants fans licking their lips, Nabers or no Nabers.
The Giants are a franchise that has been through genuine hardship. This is still a franchise that has won seven games combined the past two seasons, and gone 13-38 over the past three seasons. But with Harbaugh at the helm, a dynamic young quarterback, and a revamped roster built for winning, September 13 isn't just a football game — it's the opening statement of what New York hopes is a long-overdue turnaround.