EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers said Thursday that whether he plays against the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday night’s season opener is his decision. He would not say what he has decided.
Sitting out Sunday is still “a possibility,” Nabers said. The Giants are leaving the call to him, he said, the way Giants coach John Harbaugh laid it out a day earlier.
His answer to whether he would play was “What Harbs said.” Harbaugh said after Wednesday’s padded practice that Nabers had taken contact.
“I think he’s ready to go, man,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see, though. It’s still four days, five days, four days until we play. So, if he’s ready to go and he feels like he’s ready to go, then he’ll play. If he’s not and he’s not ready, then he won’t play. That’s how it works.”
On the injury report, Nabers is listed with a knee injury. He was a full participant Wednesday and Thursday. So were the four other Giants listed this week. Game designations come with Friday’s final report.
Nabers still has a lot of football left to play, and he is taking the risk to his career into account.
“It’s my career and it’s my body,” Nabers said Thursday. “I know when I’m able to play.”
Malik Nabers’ Recovery From Two Knee Surgeries
Nabers tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee on Sept. 28, 2025. New York beat the Los Angeles Chargers 21-18 that day in Jaxson Dart’s first career start. Nabers had 2 catches for 20 yards before he was carted off in the second quarter.
A month later, on Oct. 28, he had surgery to repair the ACL. A second procedure this offseason removed scar tissue that had caused stiffness in the knee.
Nabers sat out the Giants’ offseason workout program and returned to the practice field for training camp. He came out of the red non-contact jersey in August. He did not play in the preseason.
After practice Aug. 31, Nabers said he wanted to be healthy enough to play all four quarters without his snaps being limited. He feels good now and wants to play Sunday, but he needs to be 100% certain he is ready first, Traina reported.
“I grinded my ass off, excuse my language,” Nabers explained. “I grinded, prayed hard, put in a consistent amount of work. Early, early mornings and late nights. I put in the work, and I did everything that I can to be in this position right now to be able to make the decision to play or to not play.”
“If I am out there, I put in a great amount of work to know that I’m able to play, and I’m able to do exactly what I know I can do and will do,” Nabers continued.
Malik Nabers’ Three Games Against The Dallas Cowboys
The Giants drafted Nabers sixth overall out of LSU in 2024. His 109 catches as a rookie set the franchise’s single-season record. He finished that season with 1,204 yards and 7 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl.
Against Dallas that year, he caught 20 passes for 184 yards in two games. Last September at AT&T Stadium, he caught 9 passes for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 48-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in regulation put New York ahead 37-34. Dallas tied it on a field goal and won 40-37 in overtime.
Both of his 2025 touchdowns came in that game. He played four games before the injury and finished the season with 18 catches for 271 yards.
New York won the rematch 34-17 at MetLife Stadium in the Jan. 4 finale while Nabers was on injured reserve. Sunday’s kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
