EAST RUTHERFORD – The Cowboys didn’t embarrass the Giants.

Maybe that’s because the Giants are better than expected? Maybe because the Cowboys are worse. But New York’s reworked offensive line remained Micah Parsons remote, quarterback Daniel Jones After enjoying his third consecutive efficient performance and the defense keeping Dallas’ high-powered offense at bay, it became clear that the gap between the two is closing.

That’s the positive from the Giants’ 20-15 loss, which dropped their record to 1-3. It also feels hollow, meaningless. All this is secondary to the health of the recipient Malik Nabers.

The Giants need him.

New York had a chance – an alien concept after their two most recent battles with the Cowboys ended in the cumulative score of 89-17. They got the ball back five minutes in with 3:33 to play. Jones, who finished 29 of 40 for 281 yards, needed one touchdown and the game was theirs. Jones hit Nabers for four, Tyrone Tracy ran for no gain, but Jones just missed Wan’Dale Robinson for a so-called deep gain.

Jones took the shotgun snap on fourth-and-6, the pressure washed him to his left, he moved that way and up the field, then fired a laser at Nabers near the sideline. The ball ended up with Nabers, whose feet dragged within the lines. When his body fell to the grass, he lost control. Then his helmet fell to the ground.

Nabers lay motionless on the ground for a few moments. Trainers then led him to the blue medical tent before returning him to the locker room. He was soon ruled out due to concussion.

The Giants did not provide an update on Nabers – Daboll said he had not yet spoken to him during his press conference. The rookie was at his locker when the media entered the room. Several teammates, namely Jalin Hyatt And Rakeem Nunez-Rocheswent to check on him. Trainer Ronnie Barnes and Daboll also came by. Nabers seemed cheerful, from what could be observed.

Nabers was not available to the media because he had suffered a concussion – players with concussion are not allowed to speak. Pass rusher Brian BrandsBut while in the media presence, he shouted at Nabers and asked the broadband how he was doing.

“Leek, are you okay?” Burns asked.

Nabers shook his head no.

The wideout later posted a photo to his Instagram Story with the caption: “All good. Thanks for all the prayers!!”

Nabers, whom the Giants drafted sixth overall this year, is on par with former teammate Jayden Daniels as the NFL’s most impressive rookie. He already has 35 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns. He had 12 catches for 115 yards against Dallas.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, he is the first player in NFL history to have at least 25 catches and three touchdowns in his first four career games.

He’s already the Giants’ most important offensive player, and that’s probably because of Jones. The Giants targeted him an average of thirteen times per game. He has also thrown a pass and run three times.

“I think he’s doing some good things,” Daboll said. “Glad we have him.”

About the only thing the Giants have to deal with at this point is Nabers suffering his injury on Thursday. New York has ten full days left before traveling to Seattle to take on the 3-0 Seahawks. Those extra days could be of great importance for Nabers who wants to approve the protocol.

But even then, it feels a bit like a long shot.

The Giants’ attack runs through Nabers. They have other players, like tailback Devin Singletair and Robinson, but this offense will thrive when Nabers leaves. But even with him, they are averaging just 15 points per game – down from 15.6 a year ago. The thought that they would find their way to the end zone in his absence with alternatives like Hyatt, a third-round pick from a year ago who has not logged a reception this year, and veteran Darius Slaytonwho had three catches for 56 yards is nerve-wracking.

Whether a gap is closed or not, the Giants are down 1-3. After Seattle, they will face the Bengals, Eagles and Steelers. This season they can get away very quickly.

They relished their chances to set things right with Nabers.

Now they may have to figure out how to accomplish the same thing without their most, and perhaps only, dynamic weapon.