New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh tackled wide receiver Malik Nabers during a practice session to help him overcome psychological hurdles stemming from a serious knee injury.
Nabers had been medically cleared for weeks following an ACL and meniscus injury that occurred a year prior. However, he expressed uncertainty about his ability to play without fear of re-injury. To address this, Harbaugh performed an impromptu tackle on Nabers during a Saturday walkthrough practice.
"He wanted to see if I could take a tackle and it was good," Nabers told reporters, recounting the incident. "Actually, coach Harbaugh tackled me... He wanted to see if I could take a tackle and it was good."
Quarterback Jaxson Dart described the moment, noting the team's surprise. "We're all just standing there, and then all of a sudden Leek goes down on the ground, and our team's super protective of him. So we all turned to look, and it's coach Harbs tackling Leek. And then he pops up and he goes, 'See, you're all good.'"
Harbaugh, who has a history of success in season openers, opted for an unconventional, hands-on method to build Nabers' confidence, a departure from purely analytical coaching approaches.
Ultimately, Nabers was cleared to play in the Giants' regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Harbaugh stated he felt confident Nabers was ready about two and a half hours before the game, after the receiver tested his knee and felt prepared to perform and protect himself.
Nabers played in the game, catching six passes for 69 yards. The performance marked his return to the field and demonstrated renewed confidence in his ability to withstand contact.