Giants' Jaxson Dart reveals how HC John Harbaugh got Malik Nabers to play in Week 1

The New York Giants have entered a new era of football. Specifically, it is the John Harbaugh era, as he takes on the task of getting them back to the playoffs on a consistent basis.

Last season was tough for New York as they lost Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers, two of their great young players. Nabers suffered a torn ACL.

“The New York Giants had their worst fears confirmed Monday with an MRI showing that standout wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee, coach Brian Daboll announced,” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan wrote. “Nabers suffered the injury while trying to catch a deep ball down the right sideline in the first half of Sunday's 21-18 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. He immediately reached for his right leg as he was in the air and landed hard on the ground.”

On Sunday, it was still unclear whether he was going to play or not. He had been a full go in practice, but still didn’t know if his body felt ready. He played, and after the game, he admitted he felt ready.

“I had to feel like I wanted to play,” Nabers said. “I had to feel it. Just everyone wanted to see me. … I had to feel the energy.”

Nabers has mentioned that he didn’t know he was going to play until he felt how his body responded in warmups. Giants QB Jaxson Dart believes there was a different moment this week that made Nabers feel like he could play. The moment was Harbaugh tackling Nabers in a walkthrough out of nowhere.

“All of a sudden, (Malik) goes down on the ground... So we all turn to look—and it’s Coach Harbs tackling Malik. Then he pops up and goes, ‘See, you’re all good,” Dart told the media.

Nabers hadn’t been hit since his injury last season, so that could have very well been a big mental hurdle. Harbaugh has always been able to get the most out of his players, and it sounds like he pulled the right strings in the walkthrough.

The best part was that no one knew it was coming. Nobody could warn Nabers; it just happened. Nabers went on to have 69 receiving yards on six catches. It was a great first game back, one that may not have happened without Harbaugh’s bold idea.

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