Time is often said to heal all wounds, and the New York Giants are counting on that to be true for their rookie wide receiver, Maik Nabers. After suffering a concussion in the team’s 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, Nabers’ condition appeared concerning initially. In the postgame locker room, he didn’t seem to be doing well. However, his spirits were lifted when teammate Brian Burns called out to check on him, showing that Nabers was beginning to recover.
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton offered an update on Nabers’ condition on Monday, expressing optimism about his teammate’s recovery. “He’s doing well,” Slayton shared. “I saw him today for the first time since Friday. He was in good spirits. He’s doing what he needs to do. With concussions, all you can really do is keep your eyes closed. He’s handling that, and he’s in good spirits.” Slayton, who had experienced his own concussion earlier in the season without missing a game, seemed encouraged by Nabers’ progress.
Nabers also took to Instagram shortly after his postgame appearance in the locker room, letting fans know he was feeling better. Despite the positive signs, Nabers is expected to enter the NFL’s concussion protocol when the Giants return to practice on Wednesday. The hope is that he will be in the later stages of the protocol by that time, potentially clearing the way for him to return in time for the Giants’ Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
The rookie wide receiver had a standout performance against the Cowboys, recording 12 catches for 115 yards. Unfortunately, his injury occurred late in the game on a 4th-and-6 play. As he tried to make a 13th catch while being tightly covered by Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, Nabers dove for the ball, attempting to stay inbounds. However, he landed out of bounds and hit his head on the ground, which led to the concussion.
Slayton, with personal experience dealing with concussions, was careful not to make any firm predictions about Nabers’ availability for the next game. “It varies for everybody,” Slayton explained. “It can affect your mood, sensitivity to things, vision—different things. For everybody, it’s different. But [Nabers] is handling it well, and I think he’ll be alright.”
The Giants will be keeping a close eye on Nabers as he works through the concussion protocol. While the timing of his recovery remains uncertain, his teammates and coaches are hopeful that he’ll be back on the field soon, continuing to contribute to the team’s offense. With the Giants facing a tough road game against the Seahawks, having a healthy Nabers could make a significant difference in their passing game.
The team is cautiously optimistic about his recovery, but only time will tell whether Nabers will be ready to return to action for Week 5. For now, the Giants are taking things day by day, focusing on his health and well-being as he navigates the concussion protocol.
