Malik Nabers left a lot out there in Giants return from major knee injury

Matt Nagy kept the alternate play-call sheet — the break-glass one to be used if receiver Malik Nabers didn’t play Week 1 against the Cowboys — stuffed deep in his bag.  Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.“I never wanted to look at it because I just did not want to see that one,” the offensive coordinator said.

“He’s worth two guys when he’s out there.” In his first game since tearing his ACL and meniscus on Sept.28, 2025, Nabers had six catches for 69 yards on nine targets while logging 36 of a potential 69 offensive snaps.

Not bad considering he went out for warmups two hours before kickoff unsure if he would play. How did he feel afterwards? “A little sore,” Nabers said, “but manageable.” Nabers is off the injury report to start Week 2 against the Rams. “I’m rusty,” Nabers said.“Slipping, falling.” Nabers was disappointed that he was tripped up trying to cut around Caleb Downs at the end of his 16-yard catch on a third-quarter touchdown drive.

He was tackled at the 4-yard line later in the same drive. “Just got to get back into more of the football mentality of getting north,” Nabers said.“Just taking a picture of the defense, know where everybody’s at.

I left some yards out there, I left some plays out there.I feel like I could’ve scored on probably two of them if I just run straight, get more yards.

So, I kind of think the most frustrating thing about it was just like I left a lot out there that I could’ve got.” The Giants are almost backed into a corner. Starting cornerbacks Greg Newsome II (rib) and Deonte Banks (calf) both were limited participants Thursday.Backup Paulson Adebo (knee) did not practice, and rookie backup Colton Hood should be on high alert. “The way I look at it, we got four starters,” defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said.

“I believe in all the guys that line up and play.When they get an op...