The New York Giants started the 2026 season off on the right foot. New York got a huge win against Dallas in Week 1, defeating their division rival 28-20 on Sunday Night Football. The return of one Giants playmaker was one of the biggest stories around the team headed into the season opener.

Tonya Nabers, the mother of Giants receiver Malik Nabers, spoke honestly about missing her son's huge injury return in Week 1.

“This game, Malik had to do this by himself,” Tonya said on Monday, per Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic. “He needed to go out there with no pressure from anybody and just perform.”

Tonya has not missed one of her son's games dating all the way back to his college days. But on Monday night, she watched his game on TV with her sister in Houston.

She explained that the decision ended up working out perfectly.

“It worked out perfectly because if I had been there, I wouldn’t have been able to hide my emotion or my fear,” Tonya added. “He would have been able to sense that I was nervous or my anxiety was high, and I think I would have made him uneasy. So God’s timing is the best timing. And so this journey he needed to take by himself.”

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Nabers was a true game-time decision in Week 1 and did not know he would play until pre-game warmups. Giants head coach John Harbaugh gave Nabers the ability to decide whether or not he would play. Tonya seems to be suggesting that she might have talked Malik out of playing if she had been in the stadium. Or may have at least influenced his decision.

Instead, Nabers suited up and had a solid game against the Cowboys. He logged six receptions for 69 receiving yards on nine targets.

It will be exciting to see if Nabers can take his game to the next level in Week 2.

Next up for the Giants is a road matchup against the Rams on Monday Night Football.