Giants' Malik Nabers clears concussion protocol, expected to play Sunday vs. Eagles

Malik Nabers cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol on Thursday and is expected to play on Sunday against the Eagles.

The rookie wide receiver was a full participant in Thursday’s Giants practice, after which he visited an independent neurologist for the final approval on his return. Nabers, who caught 35 passes for 386 yards and three touchdowns in the first four games of the season, missed the last two games with the injury suffered against the Cowboys on Sept. 26.

After wearing a red non-contact jersey on Wednesday, Nabers wasted no time in Thursday’s practice returning to where he left off before the concussion, making a pair of dynamic leaping catches over cornerbacks Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott in one-on-one passing drills at the start of the workout. The Giants did add a groin injury to Nabers’ official designation, but he was a full participant.

“I feel great about where we are and being on the same page with him,” quarterback Daniel Jones said of reconnecting with Nabers after the short time apart. “I know he’s working through his injury, and we’ll follow the advice of the doctors and trainers, but I feel confident in our chemistry.”

Dex, Burns miss practice

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (hip) and linebacker Brian Burns (groin) both missed a second straight practice. Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (neck) was added to the injury report and did not practice. Lawrence and Burns said on Wednesday they intend to play, but Brian Daboll described their status as “day-to-day.”

“I just know they’re not practicing today,” he said on Thursday. “Hopefully they’ll feel better tomorrow.”

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.