Malik Nabers said he wasn’t certain he could suit up until the warmups, when he started stretching and running routes, at which point he felt a surge of confidence.
After the Giants’ 28‑20 win over Dallas in the season opener, Nabers repeated his mantra: “It’s time.”
Nabers’ family sat out the celebration, even though he had practiced fully all week as his torn ACL from last season finally healed enough for him to be considered.
He recorded six catches for 69 yards on nine targets, marking progress toward the elite play that defined his rookie year before injury ended his sophomore season.
“It’s a one‑on‑one battle you have to go through,” Nabers explained. “You do it for yourself. I didn’t want my family here because I felt I’d let them down if I didn’t play. I had to prove to myself first, step onto the field, feel capable, and then I felt good.”
Nabers emerged from the tunnel shortly before 6:30 p.m., completing a pre‑game workout with a trainer before deciding to play. He said his hesitation stemmed from not wanting to jeopardize his career, which kept his availability in doubt until the weekend.
He quickly joined the offensive flow. On the Giants’ first drive, Jaxson Dart delivered his inaugural pass to Nabers, who angled across the line of scrimmage for a nine‑yard gain. The crowd erupted with his name after each catch. While the Giants offense was balanced, Nabers focused on building a reliable role after an uncertain return.
“I had to feel like I wanted to play,” Nabers reflected. “I had to feel it. Everyone wanted to see me. I needed to sense the energy.”
