Giants’ Malik Nabers isn’t adding any more fuel to Trevon Diggs matchup

Malik Nabers thought for a day that he might have a chance at winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Week after his two-touchdown performance lifted the Giants past the Browns.

Then he watched his former LSU teammate Jayden Daniels set an NFL rookie accuracy record by completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards with two touchdowns (and run for 39 yards and another touchdown) in the Commanders’ win on Monday night.

What was he thinking then?

Giants receiver Malik Nabers AP

“Rookie of the Week is over with,” Nabers quipped. “After he saw me play, he was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got to go dumb on Monday.’ I was like, ‘I’m rooting for you, just don’t go too hard though.’ And he did exactly that.”

If Daniels upped the bar, Nabers is going to try to clear it Thursday in a much-anticipated matchup against Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

Nabers answered a question from Bleacher Report over the offseason by saying Diggs is the cornerback that he is most excited to face.

Trevon Diggs of the Dallas Cowboys Getty Images

Diggs apparently took that as a sign of disrespect and wrote on Twitter that the “Giants have been getting the belt for some years now.” The Cowboys have won 13 of the last 14 meetings.

Nabers wasn’t about to give any more ammunition to Diggs — an Alabama alum — before the game.

“It is what it is,” Nabers said. “I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s game time now.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scTg4nBmegY

The Giants held a walk-through but estimated that CBs Dru Phillips and Adoree’ Jackson would not have practiced. Both have calf injuries.

Head coach Brian Daboll’s “hope” is that CB Nick McCloud, who hasn’t played in the last two games, could return from a knee injury, which would give the Giants the ability to put Cor’Dale Flott in the slot. McCloud was listed as limited on the injury report.

DT Dexter Lawrence (foot), LB Micah McFadden (back) and Darius Slayton (thumb) rounded out the injury report as limited.

Practice squad TE Lawrence Cager is headed to injured reserve, Daboll revealed. Joel Wilson, one of four tight ends who worked out for the team Monday, is reportedly signing to the practice squad.

FB Jakob Johnson was waived again.

K Greg Joseph will keep his spot after he missed his only field goal attempt in his Giants debut, Daboll said one day after leaving the door open to a change. The Giants owe Joseph three weeks of guaranteed salary.