Notebook: Malik Nabers to be ‘gameday decision’

Nabers has posted his impressive stats in a forgettable season for the Giants, who have lost 10 consecutive games and are 2-13 as they prepare to face the Colts. Because of his concussion, Nabers was inactive for the Giants’ Oct. 6 victory in Seattle. His personal record this season is 1-12. Not even 500 receptions could make that feel good.

“They’re stats on my to do list, but I want to win,” Nabers said. “All those individual accolades don’t mean nothing, really. I’m doing my thing, but overall, because of the losing season it doesn’t really matter.”

Nabers, who has 971 scrimmage yards this season, wasn’t the only productive rookie who didn’t make it to the practice field today. Running back Tyrone Tracy sat out with ankle injury. He has 984 scrimmage yards (721 rushing and 263 receiving) and joins Nabers to form the first pair of Giants rookies to each have 900+ scrimmage yards. They become just the third duo in NFL history to each have 1,000 yards from scrimmage.

“Continue to cheer him on,” Nabers said. “I’m not sure if he’s aware (who close he is); last time he told me 40-something. He’s still got some ways to go, so I thought he was lying last week. Still going to continue to root him on so he can accomplish what he needs to accomplish.”

If the Giants can take a positive from this season it’s the promise shown by their impressive rookie class. Safety Tyler Nubin started the first 13 games and led the team with 97 tackles when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against New Orleans on Dec. 15. Tight end Theo Johnson caught 29 passes but needed surgery after hurting his foot in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. Cornerback Dru Phillips and linebackers Darius Muasau have become regular contributors on defense. Two free agents – defensive tackle Elijah Chatman and guard Jake Kubas – bring added skill and depth to the rookie class.

“We’re happy where we’re at,” Nabers said. “Continue to grow every day. A lot of things to fix, a lot of things we can look back on in our rookie year and continue to try to get better for next year. I’m happy with the group that decided to come here, that they picked. We’ve been doing a lot of great things.

“I feel like we’re all dawgs. Theo … you go through everybody. Nubin, he had a lot of broken stuff in his foot. He continued to play. Theo, he got his foot broken in the first quarter of the game, he continued to play. We’ve got that mentality that we want to win. Nothing’s going to stop us from getting done what we want to get done. To have that as a group and all in one, the sky’s the limit for us, I’m happy for that.”

What they could not do was lift the team to more victories. And that will always be their overriding takeaway from their NFL debut season.

“It’s not just tough on me. It’s tough on everybody,” Nabers said. “I’m continuing to keep my mental strong, continue to move forward, continue to try to better the team, better myself. Lead by example. I feel like that’s really all we can do in this state of mind that we’re going through.”

He hopes he improves enough physically to play in one or both of the final two games and help the Giants capture an elusive victory.

“Any opportunity I have to go out there on the football field and play with my brothers, whether I’m nicked up or not,” Nabers said. “I know a lot of guys are battling a lot of injuries in the facility, and in the building right now. They still continue to go out there and ball. I’m going to be right there with those guys if I can and continue to go out there with those guys and ball out.”

*In addition to practicing without their two yardage and touchdown leaders, the Giants today worked without their top tackler, Micah McFadden, who has a neck injury. Also sidelined were center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), and defensive backs Raheem Layne (knee), Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin), and Dee Williams (toe).

Players limited in practice included quarterback Drew Lock (right shoulder), offensive linemen Greg Van Roten (knee) and Jermaine Eluemunor (wrist), and defensive lineman Cory Durden (shoulder).