East Rutherford — Nabers Stews Over Costly Fumble in Giants' Loss

Malik Nabers lay flat on his back on the turf at MetLife Stadium as Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas walked away with an interception that sealed a 24-21 Giants loss. The New York wide receiver did not go into the locker room afterward, and when the team returned to its facility Friday for meetings — with no practice on the schedule — Nabers said his absence had nothing to do with the game. "Family emergency back home," he said, according to the New York Post.

The personal matter arrived in the same week Nabers lost a fumble for the first time in three years, a turnover he says he cannot stop replaying.

What happened to Nabers in the Giants' loss?

"You are thinking about plays that could've been the difference in the game," Nabers told reporters Friday, per the Post. "That [fumble] could've been one of those. We could've got a field goal or a touchdown. Sadly, went away just off a mistake I made. Just try to be better, and I'll be better on protecting the football and having awareness of where I am."

On the game's final snap, with the Giants needing roughly 20 yards in 34 seconds to set up a 50-yard field-goal attempt, quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw a jump ball toward Nabers against a zero blitz. Douglas intercepted it. "I saw the ball go up," Nabers said. "I didn't really see [Douglas] or where he was so I'm not really aware. My head is looking up at the ball, even though he was driving on the ball. Just seeing how high the ball was and waiting for it to come down, made a jump to catch the ball and got hit, and he made a play."

Why couldn't Nabers answer Jayden Daniels' calls?

Nabers and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels were teammates at LSU and remain close friends, which made Thursday's outcome harder to sit with. Daniels improved to 4-0-1 against the Giants in the win. "It's bugging me pretty bad," Nabers said. "He calls me all the time. He's probably trying to call me right now. But I can't answer that phone call."

Did the Giants' coaching staff see it differently?

The Post noted that Baltimore coach John Harbaugh — in coverage tied to the same game — broke down what he called key and controversial moments from the loss, though Nabers' remarks focused squarely on his own execution rather than scheme or officiating.

By the numbers

• 24-21: Final score of the Giants' loss to the Commanders.
• 3 years: How long it had been since Nabers last lost a fumble before Thursday's game.
• 4-0-1: Daniels' career record against the Giants after Thursday's win.
• 20 yards in 34 seconds: What the Giants needed to set up a potential 50-yard field goal before the game-ending interception.

What's next for Nabers and the Giants?

Nabers framed the week as a correction point rather than a crisis, saying only that he intends to tighten ball security and situational awareness going forward. The Post's broader coverage of the game, including Harbaugh's breakdown of controversial sequences, is available through the original story.