On Thursday, Malik Nabers admitted he was still hesitant, and that his surgically repaired right knee was still on his mind.
Sunday afternoon, he seemed to finally forget about the injury that cost him most of last season.
The Giants’ No. 1 receiver looked much more like the pre-injury player that made such an impact as a rookie and again early last season, before tearing his ACL and meniscus in Week 4.
Nabers caught six passes for 112 yards — 16 more yards than he managed in the first three games — and a touchdown in the 36-24 victory over the Cardinals at MetLife Stadium.
“I knew it was coming,” Nabers said after Big Blue improved to 3-1 and took over first place in the NFC East. “Everybody was asking me [how I felt]. I felt good throughout the whole week. I just didn’t want to jinx myself. I was trying to be humble and wait for the game to come to me.”
Nabers wouldn’t say he’s all the way back yet. There were still plays when he felt he left out on the field. But this was obviously a major step forward.
He found the end zone for the first time in over a year late in the first half, hauling in a 25-yard scoring strike from Jameis Winston. His last touchdown came Sept. 14, 2025. Like most of his receptions Sunday, he was wide open. He easily beat linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. on a seam route, and cornerback Garrett Williams was too late coming over to help.
“I got the look in practice, I got the look watching film,” Nabers said. “When he called it, I was like, ‘Jameis, I’m about to be open.’ He was like, ‘I got you.’”
He later added: “Just to get back in the end zone, it felt good. I didn’t know what celebration [to do]. So I just walked off.”
There was an early scare on the first Big Blue drive. Nabers went up for a 39-yard catch and landed on his problematic right shoulder. He left the game but returned shortly.
“Just fell on my shoulder, that’s pretty much it,” he said.
It was a feel-good 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 their top offensive weapon found his game.
“I felt good coming out there,” Nabers said. “I know I’m capable of more. It’s just a little bit of what I can do. I can do more.”
