Nabers says he “expected more”
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, fresh off a stellar 171-yard performance against the Indianapolis Colts, Thursday reflected on his rookie season.
In that game against the Colts, Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. became just the third rookie duo in NFL to surpass 1,000 total yards from scrimmage.
“It just shows how we’re finishing off strong,” Nabers said. “Showing how much preparation and work that we put in through the offseason to come in here and make a difference to this team.
“We’re not quitting. We still got one more game left.”
“Every game that we play, we’re always hungry. No game are you more hungry for this game. Every game you’re going in with the same mentality, to win the game.”
Nabers showed an explosiveness after the catch vs. the Colts that led to a career-best day in terms of receiving yards.
“I just felt good,” he said. “Defensive guys were taking bad angles to the football. So, I was able to make a lot of good plays. I had the ball in my hands pretty early to where I could see the defenders and where they were coming from. So, I could make my adjustments way quicker. But that was really all. I just felt more loose and felt explosive when I got out there.”
Nabers also credited his teammates with helping clear the way for some of his explosive plays.
“Ev (Evan Neal) did a great job of cleaning up. (Wide receiver) Wan’Dale (Robinson) had a pretty good block when I got down the field,” Nabers said. “Just having those extra guys out there that actually want to see me succeed and finish for their brothers, it was good to have those guys out there with me.”
Nabers and the Giants hope his prolific rookie season is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what he can accomplish.
“I expected everything that I did this year. I expected more,” Nabers said. ”But the things that I’ve done so far, I’m not surprised that I did it.”
Nabers has played through a variety of injuries this season, and shared some of what he has learned about taking care of his body.
“It’s been a long season. But anytime I can go get a cold plunge, go into a hyperbaric chamber, red light therapy, having my own massage team at home or just getting extra work when I’m outside the building. I’m doing stuff to prevent stuff from happening,” Nabers said. “So, just having that routine. I started getting that routine in the middle of the season. My body felt great. But if I can continue to do that in the beginning of the season who knows how my body is going to feel. I might get through the season a little bit easier, without the nicks and bruises. Having that plan down now, leading into next year, will probably be better.”
