Giants' Malik Nabers does not heat up the duel against Trevon Diggs

For one day, Malik Nabers thought he might have a chance to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Week after throwing two touchdowns to give the Giants a win over 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 running for 39 yards and another touchdown) in the Commanders' win on Monday night.

What was he thinking?

“Rookie of the Week is over,” joked Nabers. “After he saw me play, he said, 'Yeah, I'm going to have to act stupid on Monday.' I said, 'I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, but don't overdo it.' And that's exactly what he did.”

If Daniels has raised the bar, Nabers will look to surpass it on Thursday in a highly anticipated matchup against Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

Nabers answered a question from Bleacher Report during the offseason by saying that Diggs was the cornerback he was most excited to see play.

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

Nabers had no intention of giving Diggs, an Alabama graduate, any more ammunition before the game.

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

The Giants conducted a walk-through, but estimated that CBs Dru Phillips and Adoree' Jackson did not practice. Both have calf injuries.

Head coach Brian Daboll's “hope” is that CB Nick McCloud, who has not played in the last two games, could return from a knee injury, which would give the Giants the opportunity to move Cor'Dale Flott into 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 with limited injuries.

Practice squad TE Lawrence Cager will be placed on the injured list, Daboll revealed, while Joel Wilson, one of four tight ends who worked out for the team on Monday, is expected to join the practice squad.

FB Jakob Johnson was fired again.

K Greg Joseph will keep his spot after missing his only field goal attempt in his Giants debut, Daboll said a day after leaving open the possibility of a move. The Giants owe Joseph three weeks of guaranteed salary.