Giants’ Malik Nabers sets record, but leaves with concussion

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — 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 to it from there.

“He’s doing some good things,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Again, I’m glad we have it.”

Nabers was injured 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’ facemask hit the turf hard as he tried to recover the ball and get his feet down. The ball came loose after hitting 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 to the locker room. He was diagnosed with a concussion.

Nabers was in the locker room after the game talking with his fellow receivers. At one point, Daboll sat on a stool next to him and the two had a conversation.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns, while speaking to the media, then called Nabers through the locker room: “Hey ‘Leek, are you okay? Straight?”

Nabers shook his head, no. He then posted a more optimistic message in an Instagram story.

“Everything is fine,” he wrote in a photo taken after midnight, alongside a prayer emoji. “Thank you for all the prayers!!!”

Nabers is now part of the NFL’s concussion protocol. The Giants have 10 days until they play on the West Coast again against the Seattle Seahawks.

“I had a chance 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 fine.”

Nabers was once again the focus of the Giants’ offense Thursday night, targeted 15 times. He continues to produce at an astonishing rate. His 35 receptions are the second-most in a player’s first four career games. Only Puka Nacua (39) had more last season for the Los Angeles Rams.

Nabers also had his second game with 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 baseball player,” Robinson said. “He just goes out there and does everything you ask. He works really hard every week. He just goes out there and plays.”

Nabers’ impact was felt immediately Thursday night. He had a 39-yard reception on the Giants’ first drive, leaving cornerback Andrew Booth in the dust. Nabers was 12.16 yards apart when he caught the ball, according to NextGen Stats.

It was his biggest play of the game.

“He played another heck of a game and was a great presence for us,” Jones said. “So we will continue to trust him.”

The Cowboys tried to get their top cornerback Trevon Diggs to confront Nabers more as the game progressed. Diggs guarded Nabers on the crucial fourth down of the fourth quarter, with Dallas holding a slim five-point lead and the Giants trying to get the potential game-winning score.

The Giants get the ball one last time with 28 seconds remaining. But with Nabers unavailable, Jones threw his first interception since Week 1 on a Hail Mary attempt with just seconds remaining.