Why John Harbaugh tackled Malik Nabers before stirring Giants return

John Harbaugh got credited for one huge tackle before the Giants beat the Cowboys.The new Giants coach tackled star receiver Malik Nabers at Saturday’s walkthrough to give the receiver confidence he could take a hit after tearing his ACL almost a year ago.Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

“Relief.I’ve been fighting alone,” Nabers told reporters of how his first game back felt.

“So, just coming out there and feeling the energy and everybody glad to see me back.Just being in the dark, on the side — nobody knew what I was doing, how I felt.

“Everybody just see me out there, playing in an actual game.I know everybody was worried about if I get tackled.

Actually, coach Harbaugh tackled me… He wanted to see if I could take a tackle and it was good.”Nabers said that Harbaugh did not actually get him to the ground, though.The 23-year-old had a successful return to the field, tallying six catches for 69 yards after testing out his knee before kickoff and finally getting the go ahead with a game-time decision.It was part of a feel-good opening 28-20 victory over the rival Cowboys and a feel-good start to the Harbaugh era.“It’s a one-on-one battle that you got to go through,” Nabers said.“You gotta do it for yourself.

And I didn’t want my family here and I was feeling like I let them down by not playing.I had to do it for myself first.

I had to go out there, feel it out, feel I could do it and then I felt good.” Nabers was a breakout star as a rookie with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.His second season ended abruptly with the devastating injury suffered in Week 4 against the Chargers.Now, he is part of a new-look Giants offense.

Free-agent signing Isaiah Likely was quarterback Jaxson Dart’s favorite target on Sunday night, with eight catches for 78 yardds and two touchdowns.Nabers and the Giants will take on the Rams in Week 2 on “Monday Night Fo...