Giants Now: Malik Nabers, Ihmir Smith-Marsette make PFF Team of the Week

Nabers is tied with Miami’s Jaylen Waddle (104 catches in 2021) for the third-highest rookie receptions total in history, behind Bowers and the Rams’ Puka Nacua, who had 105 catches for the Rams last season. Bowers has played all 16 games this season, while Nabers has played 14. Nabers can set the rookie record against the Eagles but will begin the day four catches behind Bowers.

Bowers and Nabers rank second and third, respectively, in the league in receptions this season, trailing Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase (117). Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown has 101 catches and plays tonight in San Francisco.

Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. became just the third pair of rookies in NFL history – and second since the 1970 merger – to each have 1,000+ scrimmage yards. This is the first season since 2018 that the Giants have had two players exceed 1,000 scrimmage yards.

As for Smith-Marsette, the returner had the biggest play of the day when he returned the opening kick of the second half 100 yards for a touchdown. This earned him the punt/kickoff return spot on PFF’s Team of the Week.

It was the franchise’s first kickoff return touchdown since 2015, which snapped a streak of 155 games without one, the NFL’s fourth-longest streak entering Sunday’s games.

“It was great,” coach Brian Daboll said about the kickoff return touchdown. “It was another explosive play. It was blocked well. I don’t think he broke stride. He hit it. It was well blocked. Ghoby (Michael Ghobrial), Stephen Thomas and Cam (Achord) are good football coaches. It came together on that play and gave us some juice there. Indianapolis (and us) were scoring back and forth until we got that turnover late. But it was a good day for the players and for the coaches on the sideline.”