Nabers doesn't want to be on a snap count when he returns

Since Giants training camp started, neither the team nor Malik Nabers have said he’s definitely playing in Week 1. With camp over, that plan hasn’t changed.

Nabers is continuing to practice and ramp up for the regular season. While his return date is to be determined, Nabers does not want to be held back by a snap count when he’s cleared.

“I'm going to be making sure that I'm ready to go out there and I'm healthy enough to play all four quarters,” Nabers said Monday. “That nobody got to make sure I'm not in on every play or they have to make sure I got enough snaps or my snaps are limited. So, that's the main focus is just trying to be out there as much as I can.”

At the same time, Nabers is exercising caution. Despite not wearing a non-contact jersey, he’s still getting used to trusting his body at full speed against his teammates.

It’s why the Giants have slow-played his return without a firm deadline to be back. Whether Nabers plays on Sept. 13 against the Cowboys or not, the plan seems to be having him ready for a full game slate.

"I've put in many nights. I've sat in rooms, cried. I did everything to get to this moment right here," Nabers said. "So, I feel like when I get out there, I feel like I'll be better than what I was before."

Even if Nabers said it’ll take some time to get back into form, he doesn’t want to rush it. The point is when he's ready, he wants to continue as a top contributor, not just making cameos to get his rhythm back.

“It's certain things that you just got to . . . mentally prepare that before you go into a game and then everybody's just seeing you,” he said. “If you make a mistake, it's all broadcast, so nobody really knows. So, it's like, I want to be able to come out there and make no mistakes and just be able to fly around and do what I do. So, I'm getting there for sure. I'm getting there.”

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.