As I was sitting at my computer on Wednesday afternoon and the New York Giants’ first Week 1 injury report hit the timeline, all I could think to myself was, “Holy (you know what), we are so back.”
While initial injury reports on their own aren't typically all that exciting, with them comes regular-season games, and in less than 96 hours, the Giants will play host to the Dallas Cowboys for a primetime Sunday Night Football matchup at MetLife Stadium. I couldn’t think of a better opponent to go up against in John Harbaugh’s first game as Big Blue’s head coach.
History hasn’t necessarily been kind to the G-Men in season openers against the Cowboys -- they’re 1-10 all time. Having superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers back would certainly help their chances of getting that second win.
He’s been working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 4 against the LA Chargers last season. The last time he took the field against Dallas was Week 2 of last year, when he caught nine passes on 13 targets for 167 yards and two touchdowns. What better time for an encore than Sunday night?
With Leek’s status still technically up in the air, the first injury report of the season might’ve given fans the biggest hint yet that he’ll be back in action Sunday night. And for anyone anxiously waiting to see his name buried somewhere under “limited” or “did not participate,” I’ve got some pretty good news.
Giants’ first Week 1 injury report is biggest Malik Nabers tease yet
Did Not Participate in Practice:
N/A
Limited in Practice:
N/A
Full participant:
- DL Shelby Harris (Achilles)️
- OL Bryan Hudson (Knee)
- TE Theo Johnson (Shoulder)
- WR Malik Nabers (Knee)
- OT Andrew Thomas (Knee)
The biggest news coming out of the first report was obviously Nabers’ status. Seeing him listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice was the clearest sign yet that he should be good to go come Sunday night.
Harbs hit Big Blue Nation with a two-word response when asked whether the 23-year-old star WR will play, saying, “We’ll see.”
Please share less.
Whatever you do, just don’t ask Harbaugh whether anyone else is playing or not... ever. Post-practice, the 63-year-old was asked by the media about who’s playing and who’s not, and let’s just say things got feisty pretty fast. Long story short: He’s not sharing any information and doesn’t want to be asked about who’s playing or starting moving forward. So don't ask.
Rounding out the good news is left tackle Andrew Thomas being healthy and ready to go for Week 1, along with potential breakout tight end Theo Johnson (who had been working through a stinger) and starting defensive lineman Shelby Harris.
Big Blue kept backup center Bryan Hudson on the team over Lucas Patrick, with Patrick’s lengthy injury history reportedly factoring into the decision. That looks a little interesting now, with Hudson apparently working through a knee issue of his own. The irony.
For a team coming off a 4-13 nightmare season and looking to turn things around immediately under Harbs, you couldn’t ask for a better starting point than a clean injury report heading into Week 1. Now we just need night to get here already.
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