Giants rookie Malik Nabers mixes it up with Lions’ Kerby Joseph at joint practice

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Giants first-round draft pick Malik Nabers has been impressing people with his speed and hands since New York took the wide receiver with the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft, and he is not going to be intimidated by any defensive back.

Nabers showed his no-nonsense approach on Tuesday, getting into a fist-swinging altercation with Lions safety Kerby Joseph as the Giants finished two days of joint practices with Detroit.

The teams will meet in their preseason opener on Thursday at MetLife Stadium.

The play that led to the incident came shortly after Nabers of LSU beat fellow first-round pick Terrion Arnold of Alabama on a pass play. After making the catch, Nabers tapped his friend and former Southeastern Conference rival on the helmet.

It was his way of saying “good play.” Joseph didn’t see it that way. He charged at Nabers and the altercation ensued.

Nabers downplayed the incident saying it was hot and stuff like that happens in training camp. Nabers added he was not trying to show up Arnold.

“That’s the competitor in me and Arnold, we talk almost every day about just competing, how great we want to be,” Nabers said. “So, it’s nothing against him. He’s my brother, so I’m going to give him the work he needs. He’s going to give me the work I need. But I was just tapping him on the helmet, good play. That’s all it was.”

Nabers, who has caught most of the passes thrown his way in the joint practices, said Joseph was angry and rushed at him, saying a few things that he would not repeat. He did not know why the safety was angry.

Nabers said he is aware not to throw punches in a game.

“I’m just out here trying to compete at the highest point, make plays when I got the opportunity, continue to show my coaches that I’m able to play in this league,” said Nabers, who is shaping up as the Giants’ first potential big-play receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. a decade ago.

Nabers said the past two days have reaffirmed that the NFL is fast and the competition is high. He also is sure he can compete at this level, but there is a lot of room for improvement.