New York Giants wideout Malik Nabers didn’t put up star-caliber numbers Sunday night, but his performance was one of the most encouraging things to come out of the team’s 28-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys.
In his first game back from knee surgery, Nabers hauled in six catches for 69 yards in the victory. In doing so, he proved he was back, healthy and was capable of taking hits after enduring a grueling rehab process.
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That last aspect was something Nabers was worried about heading into the contest. Because of it, Nabers was a true game-time decision for Sunday’s game. He didn’t make the decision to play until roughly two hours before the game and did not invite his family to attend just in case he was not his usual self on the field, per ESPN.
In order to help Nabers be mentally prepared for his return, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh devised his own plan to ease Nabers’ nerve. During team walkthrough, the head coach actually tried to tackle Nabers to prove the wideout was capable of taking hits.
No, really.
Nabers said he did not go down on Harbaugh’s tackle attempt.
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Did that tactic work? Despite it, Nabers still needed until Sunday night before he was truly ready to take the field. Harbaugh’s tackle attempt didn’t fully convince the wideout to take the field, though it may have contributed. And if it didn’t impact Nabers at all, at least he had a fantastic story to tell after the contest.
While Nabers’ return was encouraging, the Giants still made sure to limit the wideout in his first game back since tearing his ACL last September. Nabers was on the field for 36 of the team’s 68 offensive snaps.
His production and playing time should only increase as Nabers gains more confidence in his surgically-repaired knee.
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That could come as early as Week 2, when the Giants are set to take on the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. The extra day of recovery should help on that front as well.
Everything should be easier for Nabers now that he’s finally cleared that mental hurdle. Because of that, we’d like to think Harbaugh will hold off on trying to tackle his star wideout again heading into Week 2.
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