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Giants' Malik Nabers sets record but suffers concussion against Cowboys

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers had another record-breaking game in a 20-15 loss to the Dallas Cowboys before exiting with a concussion late in the fourth quarter.

Nabers had 12 catches for 115 yards on Thursday night. He now has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in four games this season.

The LSU product became the first player in NFL history to record at least 25 receptions and three touchdowns in his first four NFL games. At the start of the second quarter he made his 25th catch of the season, which he built on from then on.

“He’s doing some good things,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Glad we have him again.”

Nabers was injured on a fourth-down pass late in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game. He tried to keep his feet inbounds on a desperate pass from quarterback Daniel Jones near the Giants' sideline.

Nabers' facemask hit the turf hard as he tried to catch the ball and get it down with his feet. The ball came loose after hitting the ground and was called incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs.

The explosive rookie remained on the ground for about a minute before he was helped into the blue medical tent and eventually the locker room. He was diagnosed with a concussion.

Nabers was in the locker room after the game chatting with his fellow wide receivers. At some point, Daboll sat next to him on a stool and the two talked.

While addressing the media, outside linebacker Brian Burns later called across the locker room to Nabers, “Hey Leek, are you OK?” Hetero?”

Nabers shook his head, no. He later posted a more optimistic message in an Instagram story.

“All good,” he wrote over a picture taken after midnight, along with a prayer emoji. “Thank you for all the prayers!!!”

Nabers is now in the NFL's concussion protocol. The Giants have 10 days until they play the Seattle Seahawks again on the West Coast.

“I had to talk to him a little bit,” said wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, who had 11 catches for 71 yards in the loss. “Nothing crazy. I think he’ll be fine.”

Nabers was once again the focal point of the Giants' offense on Thursday night and was targeted 15 times. He continues to produce at an astonishing rate. His 35 receptions are the second most in a player's first four career games. Only Puka Nacua (39) had more for the Los Angeles Rams last season.

Nabers also had his second game with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards. He also did this against the Washington Commanders in Week 2. The only rookie with more games with 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in NFL history is Odell Beckham Jr., who played four such games with the Giants during the 2014 season.

“He’s a baller,” Robinson said. “He just goes and does whatever you ask. He works really hard every week. He just goes out there and makes plays.”

Nabers' impact was immediate on Thursday evening. He had a 39-yard reception on the Giants' first drive, leaving cornerback Andrew Booth in the dust. According to NextGen Stats, Nabers had a distance of 12.16 yards when he made the catch.

It was his biggest play of the game.

“He had another great game and a great performance for us,” Jones said. “So we’ll continue to trust him with that.”

The Cowboys tried to have their top cornerback, Trevon Diggs, face Nabers more often as the game progressed. Diggs guarded Nabers on the decisive fourth play of the fourth quarter, with Dallas holding a slim five-point lead and the Giants trying to go for the potential game-winner.

With 28 seconds left, the Giants got the ball back one last time. But with Nabers unavailable, Jones threw his first interception since Week 1 on a Hail Mary attempt with just seconds remaining.

By Vanessa

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