Cam Skattebo's Backflip, Malik Nabers' Return Lift Giants Past Cowboys

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — As the final seconds ticked off the clock on a humid September night at MetLife Stadium, the New York Giants had more than just a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys to celebrate. They had the triumphant return of two young stars who had spent months battling uncertainty, doubt, and grueling rehabilitation. Running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers didn't just suit up for Sunday Night Football on September 14, 2026 — they announced their presence with authority, providing a jolt of energy that has Giants fans dreaming big.

Skattebo's Acrobatic Return

Skattebo, the second-year back out of Arizona State, wasted little time making good on a promise he'd been teasing for weeks. "I've been saying it for about a month now, 'I'm going to do a backflip when I score my first touchdown,'" Skattebo said. Eight minutes and 15 seconds into his sophomore campaign, he did just that — punctuating a three-yard scoring run with a cartwheel (which he later admitted was "crappy") followed by a backflip that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. The moment was a long time coming for a player whose rookie season ended with a gruesome dislocated ankle against the Philadelphia Eagles. "I felt like myself again," Skattebo said, still in his pads postgame. The road back was anything but easy. He briefly contemplated retirement, but chose to dedicate himself fully to rehab. Now, he's the offensive pace-setter, carrying 18 times for 81 yards and setting a physical tone that the Cowboys couldn't match. "He does not care at all. He wants me to be who I am," Skattebo said of head coach John Harbaugh, who is now 1-0 in his Giants tenure. "When I'm me, I'm able to be like that on the field."

Nabers Proves He's Back

While Skattebo provided the fireworks, Nabers delivered the substance. The dynamic wideout, whose knee injury last season cast doubt on his future, caught six passes for 69 yards and looked every bit the franchise cornerstone the Giants drafted him to be. "No matter what the coverage is, no matter who they put out there on him, you have all the confidence in the world that he's going to make a play," quarterback Jaxson Dart said. Nabers was cleared by the medical staff, but the decision to play was his alone. He told his family to stay home because he feared they'd travel only to watch him sit. "I had to feel like I wanted to play," Nabers said. "I had to feel the energy, the game-day moment." That feeling arrived during warmups, a chill running through his body as he stretched and caught passes. "It was amazing to take it all in, get right back on track to where I left off," he said. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy wasted no time getting Nabers involved, sending him in motion on the Giants' fourth play from scrimmage for an easy nine-yard pitch-and-catch with Dart.

Harbaugh's Unorthodox Methods Pay Off

Perhaps the most bizarre moment of the day came about three hours before kickoff, during a walkthrough. Harbaugh, in an effort to help Nabers acclimate to the physicality of game day, tackled his star receiver to the ground. "Then (Harbaugh) pops up and he goes, 'See, you're all good,'" Dart recalled. It was a moment that initially concerned teammates before they realized it was their head coach delivering the hit. That unconventional approach is exactly what Skattebo says he appreciates about Harbaugh. "They trust who I am," Skattebo said. "They cut me slack. I appreciate them. I'm going to continue to kick (expletive)." Defensive end Brian Burns echoed the sentiment. "I was proud of them boys," Burns told USA TODAY Sports. "(Nabers) it was a brave thing he did coming back and just not knowing. But he played well. Happy for him."

What's Next for the Giants?

With the Cowboys dispatched, the Giants now look ahead to a challenging stretch. But for one night, the story was about resilience and redemption. Skattebo warned that the backflips won't become a weekly tradition. "I might do it here and there throughout the year, but you won't see it every time," he said with a smile. "Give the kids something else to do." For a Giants team that entered the season with plenty of questions, the returns of Skattebo and Nabers provided answers. As the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk has emphasized throughout the offseason, health and chemistry are the great equalizers in the NFC East. If Sunday night was any indication, the Giants might just have both.

"I felt like myself again. I'm going to continue to kick (expletive)." — Cam Skattebo

As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on these two young playmakers. If they can stay on the field, the Giants could be a force to be reckoned with. For now, fans can revel in a victory that felt like more than just a Week 2 win — it felt like the dawn of something special.