Giants rookie WR confident he 'can compete' following joint practices

The New York Giants and Detroit Lions have held joint training-camp practices to begin the week, and things quickly heated up with several fights occurring.

A player that has been reportedly in the middle a couple times is Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Nabers has traded blows with Lions safety Kerby Joseph while reeling in 17 of 18 passes thrown his way. That has given him all the confidence he needs to know he can be successful at this level.

"I can compete with these guys in the league," Nabers said, via the team's website. "That was just the main thing. Just going against somebody else before the season starts. Let's see what I need to work on. Getting my plays down. That's really about it. Just continue to be me. That's all I can say is I have talks with myself, 'Just continue to be me.'"

It's a bit surprising Nabers wasn't already fully confident in himself after registering 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final year at LSU.

However, having success against Detroit, which came up just three points short against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game last season, will grow whatever confidence he already had.

While Nabers continues to prove New York right for drafting him so high, he knows he is far from a finished product.

"I'm able to go out and play with these guys," Nabers added. "There's a lot of work to be done, a lot of mistakes that I've made when I was out there. Just getting back in my books and coming out here the next day at practice."

The Giants have been in need of a No. 1 wide receiver after not having one reach 800 receiving yards in 2023.

Nabers is proving in practice he can be that player for New York, but head coach Brian Daboll is ready to see it in the stadium.

"(He showed) what he's showed all camp," Daboll said. "Competitive. Knows what to do. Been playing at a high level in practice, (we'll) see if that translates to the games. I have a lot of confidence in Malik."