ARLINGTON, Texas — Malik Nabers got his wish.
The Giants targeted Nabers early and often Thursday in a 27-20 loss to the Cowboys, keeping content their rookie star receiver who griped last game that he wasn’t being given enough of an opportunity to impact games before scores were out of hand.
Nabers finished with eight catches for 69 yards, including a highlight-reel 16-yarder along the left sideline to set up a fourth-quarter touchdown.
But he also added his seventh drop of the season.
“I don’t care about drops,” Nabers said. “I mean, it’s just part of football. I don’t care if I drop the ball six times. Keep throwing me the ball.”
Nabers laughed that he was “happy” with his 13 targets.
“It helps me get into a rhythm to get hit a few times and feel the ball,” Nabers said. “I think we did well as an offense … just came up a little short. A few areas that need cleaning up and we win that game.”
QB Tommy DeVito said he plans to be back soon after undergoing further testing Wednesday on his right forearm and missing what would have been his second straight start since taking over for Daniel Jones.
He was third-string emergency quarterback behind Drew Lock and Tim Boyle.
“Structurally everything was good,” DeVito said. “Just could not be ready for Thursday. I feel pretty good — better than I did [Wednesday]. If it was a Sunday, I think I would’ve been able to play.”
DeVito said he still hasn’t really tested his forearm while throwing because the Giants held all walk-throughs this week.
CB Deonte Banks went from questionable to inactive without so much as a pregame warm-up for his would-be rematch with CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb, who leads the NFL in receptions and targets, did his part to help the Giants get by with three dropped passes in the first half. He finished with two catches for 39 yards.
The Banks-Lamb rematch was anticipated because Lamb caught a touchdown pass against Banks and showboated his way into the end zone in Week 4.
Banks stopped pursing Lamb about 20 yards from the end zone, which drew the ire of defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson and caused Banks to admit that he “could’ve done more.”
RB Devin Singletary started over Tyrone Tracy Jr., after Tracy had back-to-back games with a lost fumble and was benched late last week.
Tracy checked in on the Giants’ second set of downs and ended up capping that first possession with a touchdown — just the Giants’ fourth first-drive touchdown in 46 games under Brian Daboll.
RB Eric Gray fumbled a kickoff that was recovered by teammate Matt Adams. Alarmingly, it was Gray’s sixth fumble on 75 career touches.
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux was called for two penalties that gifted first downs.
He was flagged for offsides on third-and-5 and for an egregiously late roughing the passer when he shoved Cooper Rush from behind.
The Giants committed 13 penalties in all.
The other inactives included RT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad), S Anthony Johnson, CB Tre Hawkins and OL Jake Kubas. Eluemunor did not make the trip.
