Malik Nabers declared that the feeling of being ready to play in the New York Giants' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys came to him during pregame warmups. "It's time," Nabers said after the Giants' 28-20 victory, which marked the beginning of the John Harbaugh era. He had been questionable for the game despite a full week of practice, as he neared the end of his recovery from a torn ACL sustained last season.
Nabers finished the game with six catches for 69 yards on nine targets, marking a significant step toward regaining his previous form. He explained his personal motivation for playing, stating, "I had to do it for myself first. I had to go out there, feel it out, feel I could do it and then I felt good."
His family was not in attendance for the game, as Nabers wanted to prove his readiness to himself before involving them. He walked onto the field just before 6:30 p.m. and participated in warmups with a trainer before making the decision to play. Earlier in the week, Nabers had expressed concerns about jeopardizing his career, which contributed to his uncertain status heading into the weekend.
Nabers was involved in the offense early, catching his first pass on the Giants' opening drive for a 9-yard gain. The crowd cheered his name after each reception throughout the game. The balanced offensive performance from the Giants meant Nabers did not have to carry the load in his return, but instead focused on building a foundation in his first game back.
"I had to feel like I wanted to play," Nabers said. "I had to feel the energy."