Malik Nabers is headed to Orlando.
The former LSU star wide receiver was named to the Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is missing the all-star event in Orlando due to injury.
The Lafayette native is the Giants’ first Pro Bowl wide receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. earned honors in 2016. Nabers is also the first Giants rookie Pro Bowler since Beckham in 2014.
Despite missing two early-season games with a concussion, Nabers set a franchise record with 109 receptions. That is two more than Steve Smith’s former franchise record of 107, which was set in 2009.
The former Comeaux and Southside High star recorded 1,204 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns. His 109 receptions placed him fifth in the NFL this season and his 1,204 receiving yards was the league’s seventh-highest total.
Nabers’ 109 receptions are the most by a rookie wide receiver in NFL history, topping the 105 catches the Rams’ Puka Nacua tallied in 2023. It is the second-highest total among all rookies, trailing only Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, who caught 112 this season.
Nabers had at least five receptions in 14 of the 15 games in which he played, the most games with five or more catches by a rookie in NFL history, surpassing the former standard of 12, set by New England’s Terry Glenn in 1996 and tied by Arizona’s Anquan Boldin in 2003.
The Pro Bowl Games are a multi-day AFC vs. NFC event that will feature 88 of the NFL’s top players in several skills competitions and a flag football game.
The skills competitions will take place on Thursday at several venues in Central Florida. The flag football game will be played Sunday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Peyton and Eli Manning will be the head coaches for their respective conferences for the third consecutive season.
Nabers left LSU as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003) and accomplished the feat in three seasons. Nabers is one of two players in Tiger history to top the 3,000-yard mark in receiving yards, joining former Rayne High star Josh Reed (3,001 yards from 1999-2001).
