A concussion will keep Giants WR Malik Nabers out of the Bengals game

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers will not play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night because of a concussion, coach Brian Daboll said.

Nabers will miss his second straight game. He also did not play in Sunday's 29:20 win against the Seattle Seahawks.

“He's going to do things off the field, more like he's done the last two days,” Daboll said. “He won’t make it (on Sunday).”

The No. 6 pick in this year's draft remains in the concussion protocol and did not practice this week.

Daboll wouldn't say whether Nabers still had any symptoms.

“I’ll leave that in the house,” he said. “But as he progresses he will do a bit more than he did on Thursday, similar to probably the day before. Take it day by day.”

Darius Slayton will be the No. 1 receiver for the second straight year. He had eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in Seattle.

The Giants (2-3) could also be without running back Devin Singletary for the second straight week. He was limited in practice this week and Daboll seemed unsure of where he stood before Friday's practice.

Rookie Tyrone Tracy (129 rushing yards) performed admirably in Seattle.

Nabers appeared to have a chance at a return earlier this week. On Wednesday he ran on the side with a trainer. But he did very little during the open portion of Thursday's practice, when Daboll said he remained “in the same place” in the protocol.

He probably had to go to practice to be ready for Sunday night.

“I would say he has a pretty good concussion,” Daboll said. “I’m not going to go into concussion protocol or anything like that. It’s a serious matter.”

The young playmaker achieved more on Friday. He ran sprints and even caught a few passes in the open portion of practice.

Still, he didn't have any more time. A player must complete “club-based non-contact training drills” and clear a team physical before an independent neurologist can exempt him from the league-mandated concussion protocol.

The goal now is to get him back when the Giants host former running back Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

Nabers didn't seem all that close this week, and his attendance at a Travis Scott concert on Wednesday at MetLife Stadium raised some questions on social media.

Daboll wouldn't say whether he had issues with his star wide receiver attending the concert while he was still in the protocol.

“I keep it all in the house,” he said.

Daboll did say that Nabers did not violate any team rules.

The injury occurred when Nabers attempted a catch near the sideline near the end of the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago. His face hit the ground as he tried to intercept the pass and get his feet downfield. The Giants' medical staff immediately attended to him while he stood on the team's sideline.

Nabers did not return to the game. Afterwards, outside linebacker Brian Burns yelled at the rookie across the locker room and asked if he was OK.

“No,” replied Nabers.

The problem has slowed a historic start to the season. Nabers became the first player in NFL history to record at least 25 receptions and three touchdowns in his first four games.

The LSU product has 35 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns this season.