No banner-bearing planes flew over MetLife Stadium, but a dark cloud still hung over the aftermath of a victory.
Superstar receiver Malik Nabers is feared to have suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee — the major asterisk Sunday souring one of the best performances by the Giants of the past three seasons in a 21-18 upset win against the Chargers.
“Unfortunately this is a business of injury,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “I feel terrible for Malik’s injury. We’ll see where it’s at. He’s an important piece to our team, but … it’s next man up.”
A jovial postgame locker room’s only moments of cold water came at the mention of Nabers’ name.
“Aw s–t,” Brian Burns said. “I didn’t think it was going to be that serious, personally. My heart goes out to that kid. I’ve seen the work he puts in. I know what he was banking on. I know his goals for this season. But Leek will be back, and he will be better than ever. I believe in him.”
Nabers, who was not spotted after the game, is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the initial diagnosis and determine whether any other ligaments or the meniscus are damaged — either of which would complicate his recovery.
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“F–k,” Kayvon Thibodeaux said upon hearing the worst-case fears. “That hurts. But I hate to say it: We didn’t blink an eye. He’s a guy we need out there as part of our team, but it’s next man up. That’s the name of the game.”
Nabers is the unquestionably the best Giants offensive playmaker and the rest of this season was supposed to be about building a connection of the future with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Making his first career start, Dart found Nabers twice for 20 yards (and a third time for a 14-yard defensive penalty) on the opening touchdown drive before Nabers’ knee buckled while going for a jump ball on the sideline during a free play.
The home crowd — reportedly saved by the windy weather from the sight of planes carrying angry messages paid for by fans trying to get messages to owner John Mara — gasped at the sight of the cart entering the field as Nabers clutched his knee in extreme pain. As he rode away, Nabers waved to the crowd that cheered him on before burying his face in a towel.
“Malik is one of one,” Dart said. “When you have a guy like that on the field, you have all the confidence in the world that he can be a dominant game-changer.”
Darius Slayton spoke briefly with Nabers at halftime.
“I just told him we are praying for him and we’ve got his back and we’re going to finish this game for him,” Slayton said. “He didn’t say too much. He was pretty sad.”