Giants’ Malik Nabers explains why he wants to get involved early

The first pass thrown by the Giants on Thursday could already be telegraphed as being intended for Malik Nabers.

You can bet the Cowboys defensive backs are waiting to jump a route.

Two days after Nabers complained about not getting enough early play opportunities and a day after head coach and play-caller Brian Daboll took responsibility, the rookie wide receiver explained why he needed to start quickly. to start.

“If you start a game later, it’s like your body isn’t ready,” Nabers said. “You come into the game prepared, right? If you take away a quarter, two quarters, your body just starts to run out of it.

“It’s like you don’t even want to play anymore. I’m not saying that’s how I feel. I’m just saying it’s your body. You don’t get involved early, you don’t get the feel of the ball, you don’t get hit. Once the football plays an offensive role, after you get hit, you’re like, “All right, I’m ready to go.” » »

Nabers has two total first-half catches in the last three games combined. He was only targeted on the first play of the third quarter in Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, leading him to say he “can’t do anything (if I) start getting the ball when it’s 30-0” and to “talk to Dabes about it” game plan.

“I get to the third quarter and I’m not as energetic as before. That’s all I said,” Nabers said. “I need to get the ball early so I can make a change in the game early in the game rather than just later in the game.”

The Giants only ran 15 offensive plays in the first half.

Nabers unusually used Coachspeak to highlight “a lack of technique” and “a lack of communication” for the offense’s failures.

“When I look at it,” Nabers said, “we tried to give me the ball a few times in the first half.”

None of this should surprise the Giants, who questioned Nabers before the draft about scouting evaluations that he reacted “harshly” to not being involved early in games. Nabers was honest and Daboll insisted on his draft selection.

“It’s just the competitor in me. That’s how I’m wired. This is exactly who I am,” Nabers said. “I just don’t like losing. If I feel like I had an opportunity to help the team win, I’m going to express it.”

---

OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the next four games.

The Giants gambled by not trading Ojulari for a late-round pick at the Nov. 5 deadline, despite his long injury history (16 career missed games) and pending free agency.

He had five sacks in five games when his playing time increased while Kayvon Thibodeaux was sidelined, but this will be his third straight season sidelined.

TE Greg Dulcich was claimed off waivers from the Broncos and added to the 53-man roster, where he joins rookie Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger and Chris Manhertz. Dulcich had 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2022, but had fallen out of favor.

---

LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and DL Armon Watts (shoulder) did not participate in Tuesday’s visit.

Quarterback Tommy DeVito (right forearm) and RT Evan Neal (hip) were added to the injury report as limited.

CB Deonte Banks (ribs), DT DJ Davidson (shoulder), Johnson (back), LB Micah McFadden (thumb/heel) and S Tyler Nubin (back) remained limited.

DT Dexter Lawrence (knee) has been upgraded to full participation.