'Special' Malik Nabers sets rookie mark for 1st three NFL games

CLEVELAND -- New York Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers became the first player in NFL history with 20 receptions and three receiving touchdowns in his first three games, according to ESPN Research.

Nabers had eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday in a 21-15 victory over the Cleveland Browns. At 21 years, 54 days, he's also the youngest wide receiver in NFL history with multiple receiving touchdowns in a single game, surpassing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans (21 years, 73 days).

"The kid's special," Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns said. "He's showing you week in and week out he's special."

Nabers has 23 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns this season.

His rare ability was on display late in the first half, when he basically plucked a ball off cornerback Martin Emerson Jr.'s head for a 28-yard gain down the left sideline. The pass, which Emerson almost intercepted, turned into a big play.

Later in the same drive, Nabers made a leaping, twisting catch in the back corner of the end zone while still having the body control to get both feet down.

The No. 6 pick in this year's draft managed to catch another touchdown pass right before halftime to set the record.

"Just hard work," Nabers said. "[Coach Brian Daboll] cooking up. Dabs cooking up a lot of plays for me. Offense trusting me to get that done. Putting a lot of targets on my back to get the ball in my hands, it shows how much we want to be an explosive offense. I'm just a key factor in that offense."

The rookie receiver was able to do all this fresh off a costly drop late in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to the Washington Commanders. That play hung over him all week.

Nabers remains disappointed, but it didn't hamper his confidence or performance Sunday.

"It's still bothering me," he said. "It's something I just have to put in my badge. I'm never going to not think about it. It still goes through my mind every day I talk to [Commanders quarterback and former LSU teammate] Jayden [Daniels].

"Yeah, it still goes through my mind."

It hasn't taken long for Nabers to introduce himself to the rest of the league. Even as a rookie, the Giants have installed him as the centerpiece of their offense. He's averaging a touch more than 12 targets per game.

It's producing records and results. Nabers has at least 60 yards receiving in each of his first three professional games. His 23 receptions are tied for second most in NFL history for a rookie through three games, along with Arizona's Anquan Boldin and behind only the Los Angeles Rams' Puka Nacua.

It's not at all surprising to the Giants.

"He's played really well to start, and it hasn't surprised us with watching him in training camp and all the plays he's made," Giants quarterback Daniel Jones said. "He's made a lot of big plays for us, and I have a lot of trust in him going up and getting the ball. We need to continue to take advantage of his ability to make plays."

The leaping catches and touchdowns wasn't what impressed Daboll most. He was fawning after the game over Nabers knocking down a wayward pass after Jones' arm was hit early in the fourth quarter.

That prevented a potential game-changing interception for the Browns.

"That play says more to me about Malik than some of the other things," Daboll said. "Everyone can see the touchdowns, but the unselfish play, the smart play he made, was a huge play in the game. Huge."

It's not just the Giants who are noticing the skill and ability of their rookie wide receiver. Those who have to play against him are, too.

Nabers is quickly developing a reputation as a high-end NFL receiver.

"Tape don't lie," Emerson said. "Everything we saw was pretty much accurate. Everything we saw they ran."

The Browns (1-2) had trouble stopping it in the first half. That is when Nabers and Jones connected on all six of their attempts for 66 yards and the two touchdowns.

It was an extension of the connection the two had last week in Washington, when Nabers had 10 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.

In a way, it's what Nabers expected entering the NFL. Not necessarily the records, but the early success.

"I had high expectations," he said. "But I feel having the dog mentality I got, it's just showing every time I'm out there on the field."