The Dallas Cowboys still have a major uncertainty hanging over their Sunday night opener against the New York Giants: Malik Nabers.
All summer, the Giants have sent mixed signals about whether their star receiver would be ready for Week 1. His full practices on Wednesday and Thursday made it look more and more likely he’d suit up. But after Thursday’s session, Nabers talked like a player who is still weighing the risk.
“I've been wanting to play for so long now,” Nabers said. “But at the end of the day, I can't put my career at risk.
I got to take that into account. There's a lot of football that I still have left to play. ...”
That line - “I can't put my career at risk” - is the one that jumps out.
When a Giants reporter asked whether this was a case of gamesmanship aimed at Dallas or a real hold-up, Nabers didn’t leave much room for interpretation.
“By the look on my face, you feel like that's what it is?,” Nabers responded.“ I don't care who I play.
I don't fear anybody. I'll let them know if I'm playing.
I'll let them know if I'm not playing. If you see me out there, you see me out there.
If you don't, you don't.”
So, yes, the Giants appear to be letting Nabers decide whether he plays, which is a strange setup considering who he is and what he’s coming back from. This isn’t about routine soreness or a minor tweak. Nabers is a 23-year-old centerpiece returning from a torn ACL and a meniscus that needed two surgeries.
If he’s medically cleared but still questioning whether his knee is ready for a regular-season game, that feels like a situation where someone has to step in and make the call. Nabers absolutely should have a say.
He knows his body better than anyone. But having a voice and being the final decision-maker are two very different things.
From Dallas’ side, the stakes are obvious. Nabers is the one Giants player who can tilt the whole game. He’s already done damage against the Cowboys in three career matchups, hauling in 29 of 41 targets for 351 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
If he’s out, the Cowboys can breathe a lot easier. They wouldn’t have to spend nearly as much attention on explosive plays or worry about Nabers taking over a drive by himself. Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields, and Isaiah Likely are a much less intimidating group if Nabers isn’t there drawing double teams or bracket coverage.
Nabers still hasn’t made a final decision, and it’s worth noting again that he practiced fully on both Wednesday and Thursday. But after hearing the way he talked, it’s hard not to wonder whether Sunday night is a little too soon.
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