Malik Nabers Delivers Vintage Display as Giants Top Cardinals

On Thursday, Malik Nabers acknowledged lingering hesitation, with his surgically repaired right knee still weighing on his mind.

By Sunday afternoon, he seemed to have finally put behind him the injury that sidelined him for most of last season.

The Giants’ leading receiver looked like his pre-injury self — the player who made such a splash as a rookie and early last season before tearing his ACL and meniscus in Week 4.

Nabers finished with six catches for 112 yards — 16 more than his first three games combined — and a touchdown in the 36-24 win over the Cardinals at MetLife Stadium.

“I knew it was coming,” Nabers said after Big Blue improved to 3-1 and grabbed first place in the NFC East. “Everyone kept asking how I felt. I felt good all week. I just didn’t want to jinx myself — I was trying to stay humble and let the game come to me.”

Nabers stopped short of claiming a full recovery. There were still moments when he felt he left plays on the field, but this was clearly a major step forward.

He reached the end zone for the first time in over a year late in the first half, hauling in a 25-yard scoring pass from Jameis Winston. His previous touchdown had come on Sept. 14, 2025. As with most of his receptions Sunday, he was wide open — easily beating linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. on a seam route while cornerback Garrett Williams arrived too late to help.

“I saw the look in practice, I saw it studying film,” Nabers said. “When he called it, I thought, ‘Jameis, I’m about to be open.’ And he said, ‘I got you.'”

“Just to get back in the end zone felt great. I didn’t even know what celebration to do, so I just walked off.”

There was an early scare during the Giants’ first drive. Nabers went up for a 39-yard catch and landed hard on his troublesome right shoulder. He left the game briefly but returned shortly after.

“Just fell on my shoulder — that’s about it,” he said.

It was an uplifting afternoon for the Giants. They started 3-0 at home for the first time since 2008, honored the Super Bowl-winning 1986 team at halftime, and saw their top offensive weapon rediscover his form.

“I felt good out there,” Nabers said. “I know I’m capable of more. This is just a glimpse of what I can do.”

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