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Jordan Raanan, ESPN Staff WriterSep 27, 2024, 01:42 AM ET
- Jordan Raanan is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Raanan covers the New York Giants. You can follow him via Twitter @JordanRaanan.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers had another record-setting game in a 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys before leaving late in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Nabers had 12 catches for 115 yards Thursday night. He now has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in four games this season.
The LSU product became the first player in NFL history to record at least 25 receptions and three touchdowns in his first four NFL games. He got his 25th catch of the season early in the second quarter, then added on to it from there.
“He’s doing some good things,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Again, glad we have him.”
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Nabers was hurt on a fourth-down pass late in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game. He tried to keep his feet inbounds on a desperation pass from quarterback Daniel Jones near the Giants sideline.
Nabers’ face mask hit the turf hard as he tried to corral the ball and get his feet down. The ball jarred loose after he slammed into the ground and was called incomplete, leading to a turnover on downs.
The explosive rookie remained on the ground for about a minute before being helped to the blue medical tent and eventually the locker room. He was diagnosed with a concussion.
Nabers was in the locker room after the game talking with his fellow wide receivers. At one point, Daboll sat on a stool next to him, and the two had a conversation.
Outside linebacker Brian Burns, while addressing the media, later called across the locker room to Nabers: “Hey ‘Leek, you good? Straight?”
Nabers shook his head, no. He later posted a more optimistic message in an Instagram story.
“All good,” he wrote over a picture taken after midnight, along with a prayer emoji. “Thanks for the all the prayers!!!”
Nabers is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol. The Giants have 10 days until they play again on the West Coast against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I got to talk to him a little bit,” said wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who had 11 catches for 71 yards in the loss. “Nothing crazy. I think he’ll be OK.”
Nabers was once again the focus of the Giants offense Thursday night, targeted 15 times. He continues to produce at a staggering rate. His 35 receptions are the second most through a players’ first four career games. Only Puka Nacua (39) had more last season for the Los Angeles Rams.
Nabers also had his second game of at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards. He also did it against the Washington Commanders in Week 2. The only rookie with more games of 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in NFL history is Odell Beckham Jr., who had four such games during the 2014 season with the Giants.
“He’s a baller,” Robinson said. “He just goes and does everything that you ask. He works really hard each and every week. He just goes out there and makes plays.”
Nabers’ impact was felt immediately Thursday night. He had a 39-yard reception on the Giants’ opening drive, leaving cornerback Andrew Booth in the dust. Nabers had 12.16 yards of separation when he made the catch, according to NextGen Stats.
It was his biggest play of the game.
“He played a heck of a game again, and he showed up for us big time,” Jones said. “So we’ll keep trusting him with it.”
The Cowboys tried to get their top cornerback Trevon Diggs matched against Nabers more as the game progressed. Diggs was guarding Nabers on the crucial fourth-down play in the fourth quarter with Dallas holding the slim five-point lead and the Giants trying to drive for the potential winning score.
The Giants got the ball back one last time with 28 seconds remaining. But with Nabers not available, Jones threw his first interception since Week 1 on a Hail Mary attempt with only seconds remaining.
