Game Preview: Malik Nabers is just scratching the surface

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Malik Nabers joined the Giants with high expectations, and he has exceeded them.

If Nabers’ first two career games are an accurate indicator of a long-term trend, the Giants’ sensational rookie wide receiver is in the infancy of a record-shattering career. The sixth selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft has 15 receptions and 193 yards on 25 targets.

The 15 catches are the most by a wide receiver drafted in the top 10 in his first two career games in the common draft era (since 1967). Among all players, Nabers is tied for second with running back Reggie Bush with New Orleans in 2006. The record-holder with 16 is a back familiar to Giants fans, Saquon Barkley, who caught a Giants-record 14 passes in his second career game, at Dallas on Sept. 16, 2018.

Nabers’ 193 yards in his first two games place him first among all players selected in top the 10 in the common draft.

He joined Odell Beckham, Jr. as the only Giants rookies in the Super Bowl era with 10+ receptions, 125+ receiving yards, and one touchdown in a game. Beckham did it four times in 2014.

With Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin and Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers, Nabers is tied for second in the NFL in receptions, three behind the Rams’ Cooper Kupp. Nabers’ 193 yards lead all rookies and is fourth overall.

He has six third-down catches, tying him with Houston’s Nico Collins for second in the league, one behind Godwin.

Nabers 25 targets are second in the league; Kupp has 27.

Last week in Washington, Daniel Jones threw 18 of his 28 passes to Nabers, who caught 10 of them for 127 yards and his first NFL touchdown.

“It’s just the work that we put in,” said Nabers, who looks to help the Giants get their first victory of the season and add to his totals tomorrow against the Browns in Cleveland. “He’s certain that if he throws me the ball, the play is going to be made or the ball is just going to be knocked down. Him going at me that many times shows how much trust he has in me and the trust this offense has in me. Just moving on and continue to grow.

“I want that many targets. It shows how much my offense cares about me to get me the ball in space and lets me do what I’m able to do.”

Nabers was an elite receiver at LSU, where he set the school records for catches (189) and receiving yards (3,003). From the first day he stepped on the Giants’ practice field, it was evident he could be a difference maker. His coaches and teammates have been increasingly impressed with his team-first attitude and top-level skillset.

“He’s a really good, talented player and I think he’s taking advantage of his opportunities,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “We know that he’s both mentally and physically tough, but he’s a team guy. He wants everyone to have success, not just himself. He’s one of the first guys down there to celebrate with his buddies if they make a play. I think when the opportunities come his way, he’ll take advantage of them.”

Jones is counting on that. If the Washington game is a harbinger,he will be throwing to Nabers every chance he gets.

“He’s done a really good job,” Jones said. “Come in and played well. I think in matchup situations where he’s one-on-one with a guy, he’s won and made explosive plays for us time and time again. He’s done a good job and been a big help to us so far.”

Though he will play just his third career game tomorrow, opposing teams know they must commit additional defenders to Nabers. Those one-one-one matchups will be less frequent, and Jones and Nabers must find a way to produce with the rookie receiving more attention from the defense.

“I think there were points in the game in Washington, certainly not the whole game, but certain times where you could tell the coverage changed based off of him and how he was playing and some of the looks he was getting,” Jones said. “We have to be ready for that and understand that when you have a player like that, and you feature him like that defenses are going to adjust.”

Despite Nabers’ inexperience, Brian Daboll, as he does with many players, confers with him about what plays the rookie would like to see called.

“Once they’re on the team, you have a history with them in training camp,” Daboll said. “You get a feel for the player. You meet with them every day. You get a feel for their understanding of football. Malik is very bright in that regard. Not just understanding where he needs to line up, different spots, different positions, but he also has a good feel of how defenses are playing him, or certain players are playing him. He has good information. He did at camp. That’s where you build the trust, is during training camp and all the reps. When he comes over to me and says, ‘Hey, this guy, when I get this split, he lines here.Think about this.’ They’re out there. You trust your players.They see it. You can look at a tablet, but they’re right out there. So, if they’re giving you good information, you use it. If you go through a couple games where the information is not very good, then you don’t use it. But he’s an instinctive, instinctive football player, and he’s done a good job since he’s been here.”

The only blemish on Nabers’ NFL ledger thus far is a fourth-down pass he dropped with 2:04 remaining in the game last week in Washington. But even that presented him an opportunity to demonstrate what a special young player he is, particularly for someone who turned 21 on July 28. After the game, Nabersstood at his locker and answered every question from a cluster of reporters. He expressed disappointment at letting down his veteran teammates.

“He’s a team guy and he’s not going to let that one play affect him,” Kafka said. “Obviously, he’s disappointed about it, but it’s one play and he’ll learn from it and grow from it. Anybody, if you get beat or you lose a snap, you have to be get right back on the attack. He didn’t have another stab at it in that game, but if he had another opportunity, I’m sure he would have made a play.

Somewhat lost in the clamor after the drop was that he caught 10 passes and scored a touchdown. Nabers plans to be just as productive tomorrow in Cleveland.

“It’s just a moment I’ve got to put behind me,” Nabers said. “(I will) continue to go out there and catch extra passes after practice. I’ve been doing it anyway, but just keep trying to get catches afterward.

“(His performance) gives me confidence. It shows that I can go out here and compete. So, just going out there and trying to do the same thing every week.”