Current:Home > FinanceCostly drop mars Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers' otherwise sterling day -Dynamic Wealth Solutions
Costly drop mars Giants rookie WR Malik Nabers' otherwise sterling day
View
Date:2025-04-18 17:10:14
LANDOVER, Md. – The first milestone day of Malik Nabers’ career ended in self-described disappointment.
The rookie wide receiver slammed his hands into the sideline with 2:04 left remaining, as he could not haul in a fourth-down pass from Daniel Jones with the game tied at 18. Had the No. 6 overall pick in the draft secured the ball, the Giants would have remained in control of the clock against the Washington Commanders. Instead, the home team drove the ball down the field for a walk-off field goal, and New York opened a season 0-2 for the ninth time since 2013.
What came beforehand for Nabers – his first 100-yard career game and first career touchdown catch – became an afterthought.
“I’m disappointed,” Nabers said. “No matter how good of a game you could play, that last play came down to me. I’m hurt that I let those veterans down. They know what kind of player I am.”
The rest of the league is quickly finding out, too. Nabers caught 10 passes, including the score, for 127 yards.
All things Giants: Latest New York Giants news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
To say Nabers qualified as the centerpiece of the Giants’ passing attack may actually be an understatement. Of quarterback Daniel Jones’ 28 pass attempts, 18 went in Nabers’ direction. He now has 25 targets (of the team's 65 overall) through two games.
The Commanders were nonetheless content to leave him in one-on-one matchups, and Nabers took advantage. Twice he and Jones connected on shallow crosses for first-down gains, and twice he beat the defender covering him while running a slant route, catching the pass and spinning the opposite way toward the sideline. He had 73 yards by halftime.
“I thought he played well … it was a bunch of one-on-one coverage,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Nabers swapped jerseys after the game. Daniels said he told Nabers to “keep your head up.” Nabers initially forgot about the pre-planned exchange with his former LSU teammate because he was upset with himself and the loss. Daboll offered the same advice.
“I know that I can’t get that play back,” Nabers said, “just got to move on.”
The throw from Jones on that crucial play wasn’t perfect, and the timing was slightly off as Jones pump-faked to create a bigger passing window.
“They’re high on me. They’re passing me the ball,” Nabers said. “They know I can make plays, I’m sure. Out of a thousand times, they’re going to continue to call that play and go at me on fourth down again. So, obviously I want to make that play.”
Of course, the Giants offense even being on the field for the fourth-down play was the result of both poor planning and bad luck; kicker Graham Gano, who entered with a groin injury that had him grimacing during warmups, left following the opening kickoff with a hamstring injury. New York opted not to elevate another kicker to the active roster, and punter Jamie Gillan missed an extra point in the first quarter.
But if Nabers made his 11th catch of the game for another first down, then the Giants could at least confront their internal processes at 1-1 rather than still find themselves in search for a win.
“I know what kind of confidence they got in me,” Nabers said. “Just letting those guys down, I don’t ever want to let my team down. That’s the main motto in my head, is ‘Don’t let the team down.’ And I let my team down.”
veryGood! (714)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- 'Swift Alert' app helps Taylor Swift fans keep up with Eras Tour livestreams
- Music from Memphis’ Stax Records, Detroit’s Motown featured in online show
- Carnival reroutes Red Sea cruises as fighting in the region intensifies
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Accused killer of Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay can't have his lyrics used against him, judge rules
- Early voting suspended for the day in Richmond after heating system failure releases smoke and fumes
- Ex-US Open champ Scott Simpson details why he's anti-LIV, how Greg Norman became 'a jerk'
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Police Arrest Pennsylvania Man Who Allegedly Killed Dad and Displayed Decapitated Head on YouTube
Ranking
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- Why that rain scene in 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is so 'beautiful' to Martin Scorsese
- Caregivers spend a whopping $7,200 out of pocket. New bill would provide tax relief.
- Biogen plans to shut down its controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Man accused of destroying Satanic Temple display at Iowa Capitol is now charged with hate crime
- Academy of American Poets receives its largest ever donation
- How to transform a war economy for peacetime
Recommendation
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Environmentalists See Nevada Supreme Court Ruling Bringing State’s Water Management ‘Into the 21st Century’
KFC announces new 'Smash'd Potato Bowls', now available nationwide
Cole Sprouse admits he doesn't remember a lot from filming 'Suite Life of Zack & Cody'
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
Do you know these famous Pisces? 30 celebs with birthdays under the 'intuitive' sign.
Student, dad arrested after San Diego school shooting threat; grenades, guns found in home
Hacked-up bodies found inside coolers aboard trucks — along with warning message from Mexican cartel