The New York Giants’ season has been a big disappointment, but wide receiver Malik Nabers has lived up to all the expectations.
As the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, Nabers has consistently delivered and is now just four catches away from breaking Steve Smith’s franchise record of 107 receptions in a single season, set in 2009. That Giants team finished with an 8-8 record.
This year, however, the Giants (3-13) have struggled, which makes Nabers’ performance even more impressive. Despite playing on one of the NFL’s weakest offenses, the LSU product has been the team’s most reliable player on offense.
In last week’s 45-33 win against the Colts, which ended a franchise-record 10-game losing streak, Nabers had a standout performance. He missed two games earlier in the season due to a concussion but managed to turn short passes into touchdowns, including two long catches-and-runs of 31 and 59 yards.
He ended the game with seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Nabers explained that his big plays were the result of a few factors. He felt good, caught the ball early, and was able to make adjustments as defenders approached. Some of the defenders took bad angles while trying to tackle him, and he also benefited from good blocks, especially one from tackle Evan Neal on the first touchdown.
“I took some time out to look at my old film, had a talk with my old coach, stuff like that,” Nabers said about his big game.
“I actually looked back before that game. I was looking at my YAC (yards after catch) in college and I was like, ‘What was I missing?’ And it was like, I wasn’t really scared. I was just out there when I got the ball, I was just running.”
Pro Football Focus credited Nabers with 103 yards after the catch, surpassing his previous season high of 83 in the second week of the season.
That’s how Nabers played during his final year in college when he had 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.
However, Nabers didn’t want to directly compare his college season to his rookie NFL year.
“There’s older guys in this league,” he said. “They got families to feed. So, they’re playing their hearts out. But I wouldn’t say it was any harder or any easier.
I had a lot of great mentors on my back, on my side and in my ear, pushing me to be who they know I can be. I expected everything that I did this year. I expected more. But the things that I’ve done so far, I’m not surprised that I did it.”
Even though he’s been dealing with a number of aches and pains throughout the season, Nabers has stayed focused on keeping his body in top shape. He uses cold plunges, hyperbaric chamber treatments, massages, and any other recovery method that can help him stay healthy.
For his final game of the season, Nabers’ main goal is to win.
“Every game that we play, we’re always hungry,” Nabers said. “No game are you more hungry for this game. Every game you’re going in with the same mentality, to win the game. Never expect to lose, always win the game.”
