Injuries Strike Young NFL Stars in Giants-Cowboys Showdown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Thursday night’s game saw two of the NFL’s promising talents sidelined due to injuries. Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a concussion, and Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons dealt with an ankle injury.
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs noted the physicality of the matchup after Dallas secured a tight 20-15 win. “It was a banger today,” he stated. “A lot of guys got banged up. It shows the fight and the resilience we have.”
In a crucial moment late in the game with just 3 minutes and 30 seconds left, Nabers, the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, fell hard while trying to catch a fourth-down pass from quarterback Daniel Jones. While he initially seemed to make the catch, Trevon Diggs was closely covering him, and the ball slipped away.
Reflecting on the play, Jones remarked, “It looked like he had it from my view. He played an incredible game, showing up for us when it mattered most, so we’ll continue to rely on him.” Unfortunately, after being assessed by the Giants’ medical team on the field, Nabers was ruled out for the remainder of the game due to the concussion. He had an impressive performance, recording 12 receptions for 115 yards, marking his second consecutive game with over 10 catches and 100 yards.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who spoke to the media after the game, stated he had not yet seen Nabers and could not provide an update on his condition.
Meanwhile, Parsons experienced a foot injury after being carted off the field in the fourth quarter. This was after having initially returned to the game following the ankle injury. Despite making two tackles, including one for a loss, Parsons did not register a sack for the third straight game, which is unusual for the two-time All-Pro who has averaged at least 13 sacks in his first three seasons.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy revealed he had not yet consulted with the medical staff about Parsons’ injury and could not comment on its seriousness. Parsons was seen limping in the locker room after the game. “We won’t know more until tomorrow,” he said, adding that he planned to have an X-ray on Friday. “Right now, we just don’t know what it is.”
Parsons discussed how the injury occurred when an opponent fell on him as he was planting his leg but expressed relief about the victory. “I’m glad we’re finally back in the win column, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us,” he stated. “We can significantly improve. I’m not going to stop until we’re nearly perfect.”
Quarterback Dak Prescott praised Parsons for his contributions on the field, saying, “He’s a phenomenal player and a major playmaker. He made a key run stop during one of those final possessions. Honestly, I’m just hoping it’s not anything serious.” Prescott also celebrated his 13th straight win against the Giants, who currently hold a 1-3 record this season.
Additionally, Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence exited the game in the second half due to a foot injury, although he managed to increase his career sack total to 61.5 with a sack in the contest.
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