EAST RUTHERFORD – The Cowboys didn’t embarrass the Giants.
Maybe that’s because the Giants are better than expected? Maybe because the Cowboys are worse. But as New York’s reworked offensive line kept Micah Parsons at bay, quarterback Daniel Jones enjoyed his third consecutive efficient performance, and the defense held Dallas high-powered offense at bay, it became clear the gap between the two is closing.
That’s the positive out of the Giants’ 20-15 defeat, which dropped their record to 1-3. It also feels hollow, pointless. All of it secondary to the health of receiver Malik Nabers.
The Giants need him.
New York had a chance – an alien concept after their two most recent battles with the Cowboys ended in the cumulative score of 89-17. They got the ball back down five with 3:33 to play. Jones, who finished 29 of 40 for 281 yards, needed one touchdown and the game was theirs. Jones hit Nabers for four, Tyrone Tracy ran for no gain, then Jones just missed Wan’Dale Robinson for a would-be deep gain.
Jones took the shotgun snap on fourth and six, pressure flushed him left, he moved that way and up the field, then fired a laser to Nabers near the sideline. The ball got to Nabers, whose feet dragged in bounds. As his body fell to the turf he lost control. Then, his helmet smashed to the ground.
Nabers lay motionless on the ground for several moments. Trainers then ushered him to the blue medical tent before taking him back to the locker room. He was quickly ruled out with a concussion.
The Giants provided no update on Nabers – Daboll said he hadn’t spoken with him yet during his press conference. The rookie was at his locker when the media entered the room. Several teammates, namely Jalin Hyatt and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, went to check on him. Trainer Ronnie Barnes and Daboll, too, came over. Nabers seemed in good spirits, for what could be observed.
Nabers was not made available to the media because he suffered a concussion – concussed players are not permitted to speak. Pass rusher Brian Burns, though, during his media availability shouted over to Nabers, asking the wideout how he was doing.
“Leek, you good?” Burns asked.
Nabers shook his head no.
The wideout later posted a photo on his Instagram story with the caption: “All good. Thanks for all the prayers!!”
Nabers, whom the Giants drafted sixth overall this year, is in lockstep with former teammate Jayden Daniels as the NFL’s most impressive rookie. He has 35 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns already. He had 12 catches for 115 yards against Dallas.
He’s the first player in NFL history, according to ESPN Stats and Information, to have at least 25 catches and three touchdowns in his first four career games.
He’s already the Giants most important offensive player, and that’s likely looping in Jones. The Giants target him an average of 13 times per game. He’s also thrown a pass and run three times.
“I think he’s doing some good things,” Daboll said. “Glad we have him.”
About the only thing going the Giants way at the moment is Nabers endured his injury on Thursday. New York has 10 full days before traveling to Seattle to take on the 3-0 Seahawks. Those extra days could be significant in Nabers clearing the protocol.
Even then, though, it feels a bit like a long shot.
The Giants offense runs through Nabers. They have other players, like tailback Devin Singletary and Robinson, but this offense thrives when Nabers is going. Even with him, though, they’re averaging just 15 points per game – down from 15.6 a year ago. The thought of them finding their way to the end zone in his absence featuring alternatives like Hyatt, a third-round pick from a year ago who hasn’t logged a reception this year, and veteran Darius Slayton, who had three catches for 56 yards, is unnerving.
Whether a gap closed or not, the Giants sit 1-3. After Seattle they face the Bengals, Eagles and Steelers. This season, very quickly, can get away from them.
They liked their chances to right things with Nabers.
Now they might need to figure out how to accomplish the same without their most, and maybe only, dynamic weapon.
