Giants' Malik Nabers shares alarming comments about status for Cowboys game

A Thursday report revealed that New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was "looking likely to suit up for the Giants" against the Dallas Cowboys for this weekend's "Sunday Night Football" game in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Nabers suggested he could hold himself out of that contest. 

Malik Nabers thinking about his "career" beyond the Cowboys game

According to the Giants' website, Nabers was asked if he wouldn't play against the Cowboys in the event that he doesn't feel fully recovered from the torn ACL and torn meniscus he suffered on Sept. 28, 2025.

He later needed a "clean-up" procedure related to that injury.

"The decision is the decision," Nabers responded. "Everyone has to understand that, at the end of the day, it's my career. It's my body. I know when I'm able to play, and I know when I'm able to do what I want to do. So, everybody's got to live with the decision on what I want to do with my career."

After first-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh declined on Wednesday to confirm Nabers' status for the Cowboys game, many understandably assumed that Harbaugh was merely trying to keep Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer guessing regarding Big Blue's offensive game plan. However, Nabers' multiple references to his long-term future could lead one to believe he will be on a pitch count if he plays at all on Sunday night. 

"I've been wanting to play after I got hurt," Nabers explained. "So, it's just I've been wanting to play for so long now, but at the end of the day, I can't put my career at risk. I've got to take that into account. There's a lot of football that I still have left to play. So, making a split decision on when I think I'm able to go out there and perform, rather than just going out there, I think the coaches know that, and I know that, that I have a lot more football to play. So, just being conscious on making sure I'm at the right standpoint to go back out there."

Will Malik Nabers get "help" for making Week 1 decision?

Perhaps Nabers and Harbaugh have an understanding as it pertains to what will and won't publicly be said about any player's availability for any game moving forward. If that is the case, Nabers played his part to perfection on Thursday. 

"They're not in this position," Nabers said when asked if he will speak with family and friends about when he'll make his in-game return. "This position is mine. I'm in these shoes. I put on the cleats. I put on the helmet. So, I can't really ask someone else to make a decision for me. It's me. It's my life. It's my career."

If Nabers doesn't play against the Cowboys, he'll presumably attempt to get right for the Giants' "Monday Night Football" game at the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 21. The Rams suffered a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.