# Harbaugh tackled his own receiver

> Malik Nabers returned from a torn ACL after his head coach hit him in walkthrough to see if he could take it.
- Title: Harbaugh tackled his own receiver · Newsweek | Shortify
- Summary: Malik Nabers returned from a torn ACL after his head coach hit him in walkthrough to see if he could take it. Harbaugh's confidence test worked: Nabers…
- Keywords: nfl, new york giants, malik nabers, john harbaugh, injury return, Harbaugh, tackled, own, receiver, Newsweek
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/sports/nfl/giants-john-harbaugh-had-a-wild-way-of-preparing-malik-nabers-for-cowboys-game-12439299
- Author: Matthew Couden
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nfl, new york giants, malik nabers, john harbaugh, injury return
## Giants open with a win
New York beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 on Sunday Night Football, with several offensive stars back on the field after injuries wrecked last season.
## Skattebo flips into the endzone
Cam Skattebo, out since a Week 8 injury against the Eagles, carried 18 times for 81 yards and a touchdown, celebrating with a cartwheel flip.
## The walkthrough tackle
Nabers, back for his first game since tearing his ACL last September, said Harbaugh took him down in walkthrough to find out if he could absorb contact.

> Actually, Coach Harbaugh tackled me. He tackled me in walkthrough. He wanted to see if I could take a tackle.
## He didn't go down
Asked whether the hit put him on the ground, Nabers was blunt: he stayed on his feet. That answer settled the question of whether he could play.

> Nah, I didn't go down.
## A coach with receipts
Odd as it looks, Harbaugh won Super Bowl XLVII and 2019 Coach of the Year in Baltimore. Now he's trying unusual levers on a team that went 4-13.
## The plan paid off
Dart said Harbaugh told him pregame that once Nabers got hit he'd know he was fine. Nabers caught six passes for 69 yards; Isaiah Likely added 78 and two scores.
## Key takeaway

Harbaugh's confidence test worked: Nabers stayed up, played, and the Giants opened 1-0.