EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Star wide receiver Malik Nabers was a full participant in Wednesday's practice as the New York Giants continued preparations for their season opener on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.It's yet another box checked with Nabers coming off a difficult recovery from a torn ACL last season. Still, coach John Harbaugh wouldn't commit to him playing."We'll find out Sunday night," Harbaugh said.There does seem to be optimism. Nabers has made progress throughout the summer. He practiced all but two days, worked his way into live drills and eventually shed the red no-contact jersey.Being on the field and taking team reps on Wednesday can be viewed as a positive development."I think he's ready to go," Harbaugh said. "We'll see. It's still four days, five days until we play. If he's ready to go and feels like he's ready to go, then he'll play. If he's not ready, then he won't play. That's how it works."Nabers said recently he felt "real good" but wanted to make sure he could play all four quarters. He didn't want to be restricted whenever it was that he returned to the field for a game.The third-year wide receiver did not play in the preseason and hasn't played since Week 4 of last year. He had the original surgery back in October and another procedure earlier this year to remove scar tissue and eliminate stiffness in his right knee.It has left uncertainty about whether Nabers would be back for the start of the season against the Cowboys. Harbaugh wasn't all that willing to provide clarity four days before his first game as head coach of the Giants."I can just say this right now. Can we put a stop to all these questions because I'm not going to tell you who's playing in the game. I'm not going to tell you who's starting. I'm not going to tell you what package we have in. I'm not going to tell you what plays we're running. I'm not going to tell you any of that. OK?"So we can make it great and have a great press conference or we can make it uncomfortable. But I'm not going to tell you because if you know, then the Cowboys know. Or every other team we play knows. And that's not the competitive interests of our football team. Does that make sense? So I think you can respect that."The Giants released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton from the 53-man roster earlier this week. That leaves the team with only four wide receivers currently on the active roster. Braxton Berrios is expected to be elevated from the practice squad in order to be the team's punt returner and contribute as a wide receiver.It makes Nabers' presence ever more important. He seems to be going through a normal practice week. Harbaugh said he's not being treated any differently."You just put him through practice. Same practice that everybody else has. And that's what you do," Harbaugh said. "You don't do anything special. ... He's preparing for the Cowboys, just like everybody else on the team."Every Giant on the active roster practiced on Wednesday. Only Nabers (knee), left tackle Andrew Thomas (knee), defensive tackle Shelby Harris (Achilles) and tight end Theo Johnson (shoulder) were listed on the first injury report of the season. All were full participants in practice with the Cowboys in sight.
