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Jordan Raanan, ESPN Scribbler Team
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – Unused York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers didn’t remember the end of games two weeks ago when he suffered a concussion against the Dallas Cowboys. The video, he said, showed him that he was unconscious during the games.
The entire situation was “scary,” according to the rookie wide receiver.
Nabers, who is set to return this weekend when the Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles, has missed both games this week with a concussion he suffered on Oct. 3 when his face hit the turf while trying to corral a movement of quarterback Daniel Jones. .
“It scared me that I couldn’t remember what happened,” Nabers said. “I don’t remember the last play I was in, so yeah, it was a little scary.
“The last thing I remember is [Jones] throwing the ball to me. That used to be all.”
Nabers said he experienced headaches and palpitations in his head after the injury. He did not specify any other symptoms. It was his first known concussion.
The seventh pick in this year’s draft was cleared from concussion protocol on Thursday, two weeks to the day after suffering the injury. He was limited in practice Friday because of a groin issue that he said dates back to college. The Giants don’t seem to think that will be a problem.
Coach Brian Daboll said Nabers’ groin “tightened” during Thursday’s practice. So the team simply took precautions. Nabers did not receive an injury designation for Sunday and hopes to be able to handle whatever workload the game plan dictates.
Running back Devin Singletary (groin) will also 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 will play.
Nabers’ return comes after two weeks of being closely monitored, on and off the field. He received criticism during that time on social media for attending a Travis Scott concert with teammate Isaiah Simmons while still in the protocol.
Nabers said Friday that he informed the Giants before attending the concert. He declined to discuss the team’s specific reaction.
“Yes, I’m going to be myself all the time,” he said. “Ruthlessly, that is the moment I chose to live. It is what comes with the process. But at the end of the moment, they still gave me my own time. Still, they gave me my own private time, so I will continue to have my “I’m still going to watch my back and I’m still going to have my private time.”
Nabers is quickly learning that he is in the spotlight playing in New York. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
He mentioned X (formerly Twitter) and acknowledged that he couldn’t completely avoid outside comments about attending the concert. Some of it is sent to your phone by friends and family.
Try not to be affected too much by criticism.
“I’m ruthless, that’s their industry. In the event that they investigated what caused a concussion, what makes it worse, and on the Internet, if they say it’s lighting, listen [loud noises]that’s up to them,” Nabers said. “I didn’t come across anything else with the lighting. They asked me if I had a lighting defect, I informed them that they denied it. Having problems with the pitch, I told them to deny it. …I’ve been enjoying the loud song since I identified. [about] the concussion inside the car. I go out with the lights on. I did the sport with lighting. So I was ruthless, I had nothing more with my vision. It wasn’t hurting my head. The tone wasn’t hurting my head. So it used to be effective.”
Nabers said he was most concerned about doing well and getting back on the field.
He just had to be patient as he missed two games and watched his team score just one touchdown in Sunday night’s 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“My fitness is actually the biggest factor,” Nabers said. “So I didn’t really feel frustrated. It was just going back to the market when I felt good.”
That life is now.
