In his first four games in the NFL, wide receiver Malik Nabers quickly established himself as a key player in the New York Giants’ offense. With impressive performances, including a pair of 100-yard games and 35 catches for three touchdowns, Nabers looked like he was on track to become the focal point of the Giants’ passing game. However, a concussion suffered during the team’s 20–15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on September 26 temporarily halted his breakout rookie season.
Nabers sustained the injury when his head hit the turf hard, and the aftermath of the concussion left him with no memory of the incident, a fact he recently opened up about ahead of his return to the field. Set to play against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, Nabers reflected on the severity of the injury and the unsettling nature of the experience.
“It was scary when I couldn’t remember what happened,” Nabers shared with Jordan Raanan of ESPN. “I can’t remember the last play I was in, so yeah, it was kind of scary.”
The rookie wideout revealed that he experienced persistent headaches and a throbbing sensation in his head after the hit, which kept him sidelined for several weeks. Despite the setback, Nabers remains the Giants’ leading wide receiver for the season, a testament to his early impact on the team before the injury.
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Drafted sixth overall in April out of LSU, the Giants have not regretted their decision to make Nabers a cornerstone of their offense. However, his recovery process hasn’t been without controversy. While recovering from the concussion, Nabers attended a Travis Scott concert, sparking criticism from some fans and media questioning whether it was appropriate given his injury status.
Nabers, however, defended his decision, emphasizing his right to enjoy life outside of football. “Yeah, I’m going to always be myself,” he said. “I mean, that’s the life that I chose to live. It’s what comes with the job. But at the end of the day, I still got my own life.”
As he prepares to return to action, the Giants and their fans will be eager to see if Nabers can pick up where he left off before the concussion.
His recovery and return are crucial for a Giants team looking to find success in a competitive division, and Nabers will be a vital piece of their offensive puzzle moving forward.
