Giants' Malik Nabers wants more targets, and he isn't shy about it

On the surface, Malik Nabers' performance last Sunday reminded the Giants why they missed him for most of last season, after he went down with a knee injury in Week 4.

Six catches for 112 yards and a touchdown was reason to celebrate. But Nabers wasn’t satisfied, despite notching his first 100-yard game and score since knee surgery last season.

“I think everybody's saying it's a breakout because I scored and got 100 yards,” Nabers said Wednesday. “I could have done that Game 1, but I just slipped a couple times, and the ball just didn't come my way, or we just didn't complete on some routes.”

The ball not coming his way was still on his mind after Sunday’s win. Nabers was seen being demonstrative on the sidelines during the second half, even as the Giants rallied for a go-ahead touchdown.

Why the outburst?

“I felt like I didn't get targeted much after halftime. So, that was just a thing,” he said. “I felt like creating explosives down the field was just helping us get in a better position to score touchdowns. Some of those plays didn't come my way, so just trying to figure out why.”

The numbers back up Nabers’ frustration. He was targeted five times in the first half and caught all five passes. Nabers caught one pass on two targets in the second half.

It’s not the first time the third-year receiver has been vocal about wanting the ball. He wasn’t shy about it as a rookie in 2024 when he was upset about not getting a single target in the first half of the Giants’ loss to the Buccaneers.

In December of that year, he was even more clear about being targeted despite having several drops against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.

“I don't care about drops," Nabers said then. ”It's part of football. I don't care if I drop the ball six times, keep throwing me the ball.”

The fact that Nabers said it again, and after the Giants’ best offensive showing since quarterback Jaxson Dart got hurt, was a case of wild timing.

The offense got going early last Sunday when Jameis Winston found Nabers on a 39-yard completion. The two linked up again for a 25-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. After the game, Nabers spoke about how he and Winston are developing chemistry.

“It takes time for the quarterback to feel his receivers out, understand how he runs routs and talk through certain things to try to be on the same page,” Nabers said. “So when the game comes on, everybody’s like, it looks good, it doesn’t look bad.


Yet now, Nabers wants to make clear he stays involved by having more targets. It’s something to watch Sunday when the Giants face the Commanders and Nabers could face his former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is expected to play after missing the last two weeks with a dislocated elbow.

Nabers’ health will also be monitored. He landed on his shoulder in Sunday’s win - the same shoulder he hurt against the Rams two weeks ago - and kept playing. However, he didn’t practice Wednesday due to a knee injury and said he was feeling more sore than usual.

John Harbaugh said Monday that he didn’t hear Nabers’ outburst but the two spoke about it after the game as part of their normal conversations. He chalked it up to Nabers’ competitive spirit and wasn’t worried about it affecting his play or the locker room.

“One of the things that comes through in getting to know Malik is that he's definitely a high-energy, emotional self-motivator,” Harbaugh said. “I think that's kind of how he gets his energy riled up. So, if it helps him play better, great. If it gets in his way at some point in time and we think it's hindering him in some way, then I'd like to see less of whatever.”

Still, the Giants were actively making sure Nabers’ fiery spirit didn’t leave any lingering effects. Running backs coach Willie Taggart was seen talking to him after Sunday’s win.

Nabers said the conversation was a productive one about how to use his voice to be more effective.

“I would say everything doesn't have to be an outburst or anything like that,” Nabers said of Taggart’s words. “Just simply having a one-on-one conversation or getting the offense going like, ‘Let's go.’ Just using my voice as a leader and being that guy that everybody wants me to be. Right now, since we're down a couple of people, I'm just trying to lead the team to get more wins.”

Naturally, Nabers feels the best way to do that is by getting the ball thrown his way. The Giants will have to figure out how to ensure his return to form last weekend gets repeated, instead of seeing another outburst that could threaten the good vibes surrounding the team’s two-game win streak.

Berrios out for year

The Giants placed receiver/returner Braxton Berrios on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season. Berrios posted on Instagram that he was having season-ending surgery after leaving Sunday's game with a foot/ankle injury. 

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.