(Video) Malik Nabers’ Priceless Reaction After Jaxson Dart Handed Him the Game Ball Following Giants’ Win in His First Game Back From a Torn ACL

Nabers caught 6 passes on his return to the Giants starting lineup.

(Video) Malik Nabers’ Priceless Reaction After Jaxson Dart Handed Him the Game Ball Following Giants’ Win in His First Game Back From a Torn ACL

Jaxson Dart hands Malik Nabers the game ball after the Giants defeated the Cowboys in Week 1 (Image via IMAGO/X)

For the longest time, it seemed Malik Nabers would miss the New York Giants Week 1 fixture against the Dallas Cowboys. Nabers suffered an ACL tear last season and underwent rehab. He had limited participation in the offseason camp.

Head coach John Harbaugh announced that Nabers ‘ availability will be a “game-day” decision. A few hours before Sunday’s Prime Time fixture, Nabers was cleared to start.

The Giants emerged victorious. Nabers caught 6 passes for 69 yards (11.9 yards per catch). After the game, cameras caught quarterback Jaxson Dart handing the game ball to Nabers.

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Malik Nabers knew he was going to play against the Cowboys

The game at MetLife Stadium was the final fixture of the night. Earlier in the day, the Vikings defeated the Packers, the Bengals won against the Buccaneers, and the Eagles edged out the Commanders by two points.

(Video) Malik Nabers’ Priceless Reaction After Jaxson Dart Handed Him the Game Ball Following Giants' Win in His First Game Back From a Torn ACL
Malik Nabers (Image via IMAGO)

In the meantime, Nabers was warming up at the venue when it suddenly hit him that he was ready to play. His parents had travelled all the way from Louisiana to the Big Apple to watch his much-anticipated return.

I was just out there [doing warmups], I felt really good. I felt you know running around, I was catching really good, I stretched really good, I warmed up pretty well. I just felt like it was time to go.

Malik Nabers told SNY

The Giants opened the scoring through running back Cam Skattebo nine minutes into the first quarter. Dallas pulled one back through CeeDee Lamb in the second, but an inch-perfect pass from Giants second-year signal-caller Jaxson Dart to summer signing Isaiah Likely restored the G-Men’s lead.

The Dart-Likely connection returned in the third quarter. Around the seven-minute mark, Dart found Likely for a two-yard score. An impressed Nabers went up to his quarterback and told him that he’s “a dawg.”

[Dart] played terrific. I came at him in the third quarter… I was like, ‘you a dawg.’ Like he was throwing the ball in spots—throwing the ball over the linebackers—he was in his own. I tell him… Just keep patting his [head], keep his mental zone right.

Nabers said

Dart’s night was finished. In the final quarter, he found Devin Singletary for a 9-yard touchdown. The Cowboys scored two minutes later, but the Giants defense held on to secure a memorable victory. It finished 28-20. Dart went 23 of 29 for 230 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a QBR of 134.2. Likely finished his debut Giants game with two TDs and 78 yards on 8 receptions.

When reporters asked what kind of message he would like to send to the rest of the NFL, Nabers calmly replied, “It’s not really a message we sent to anybody – just ourselves. We expect to win…it’s a new team this year. And everybody knows it, everybody feels it.”

The Giants go 1-0 for the season. With the New York Jets grabbing a win against Tennessee, for the first time in 9 years, both New York clubs are starting the season 1-0.

The Giants drafted Nabers 6th overall in 2024. He played 15 games in his rookie year. He caught 109 passes for 1204 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, earned Pro Bowl honors, and was ranked 67th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

Nabers started year two in a similar fashion. Despite suffering a defeat against Dallas, Nabers caught 9 receptions for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. In Week 4, the former LSU star landed awkwardly on his knee and was carted off. The Giants later confirmed that he tore his ACL.

Nabers underwent multiple surgeries on his right knee. It limited him during OTAs and in spring practice. But the Giants saw improvement in his step. On Sunday, he was activated for the Cowboys game, which they won by eight points.

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