EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers didn't remember the end of the game two weeks ago when he suffered a concussion against the Dallas Cowboys. The video he said showed him being unconscious on the play.
The whole situation was “scary,” said the rookie wide receiver.
Nabers, who will return this weekend when the Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles, has missed the last two games because of a concussion he suffered on Oct. 3 when his face hit the turf hard while attempting a Deflecting a pass from quarterback Daniel Jones.
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“It was scary when I couldn’t remember what happened,” Nabers said. “I can’t remember the last play I was in, so yeah, it was kind of scary.
“The last thing I remember was [Jones] throws me the ball. That was it.”
Nabers said he felt a headache and some throbbing in his head after the injury. He did not name any other symptoms. It was his first known concussion.
The seventh overall pick in this year's draft was cleared from the concussion protocol on Thursday, two weeks to the day after his injury. He was limited in practice Friday because of a groin problem that he said was college-related. The Giants don't seem to think it will be a problem.
Coach Brian Daboll said Nabers' groin “tightened” during practice on Thursday. So they just took precautions. Nabers was not reported for Sunday's game with an injury and he expects to be able to handle the workload that the game plan dictates.
Nabers and running back Devin Singletary (groin) will return to face the Eagles. Singletary has also missed the last two games.
Meanwhile, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (hip) and outside linebacker Brian Burns (groin) are officially listed as questionable for Sunday. But both have insisted all week that they would play.
Nabers' return comes after two weeks of intensive observation on and off the field. During this time, he was criticized on social media for attending a Travis Scott concert with teammate Isaiah Simmons while still on protocol.
Nabers said Friday that he informed the Giants before attending the concert. He didn't comment on her reaction, but noted that he's going to live his life.
“Yes, I will always be myself,” he said. “I mean, this is the life I chose. That's part of my job. But at the end of the day I still have my own life. I still have my own private life, so I will continue to have my own private life, I will continue to take care of myself and continue to have my private life.
Nabers quickly realizes that he is in the spotlight in New York. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
He specifically mentioned X, formerly known as Twitter, and admitted that he couldn't completely avoid the outside noise surrounding the concert. Some of it is sent to his phone by friends and family.
He tries not to let the criticism influence him too much.
“I mean, that’s their business. If they were to research what caused a concussion, what makes it worse, and on the internet they say it’s the lights, the hearing.” [loud noises]then it’s up to them,” said Nabers. “I couldn’t see anything with the lights. They asked me if I had any problems with the lighting, but I said no. Since I had problems with the sound, I said no. … ever since I knew it, I've been playing loud music [about] the concussion in the car. I go out with the lights on. I played the game with lights. I mean, I had nothing wrong with my eyes. It didn't give me a headache. The sound didn't give me a headache. So I was fine.
Nabers said he's most worried about getting well and getting back on the field. That was his priority.
He just had to be patient while he missed two games and watched his team score just one touchdown in a 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday night.
“My health is really the most important thing,” Nabers said. “So I really wasn’t frustrated. It was just a matter of getting back out there when I felt right.”
That time is now.
