EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Coming into the 2024 season, the New York Giants had major questions about quarterback Daniel Jones and his surgically-repaired knee, their rebuilt offensive line and whether first-round draft pick Malik Nabers would live up the hype as a big-play receiver.
In rolling out their first-team offensive and defensive units in the second week of the preseason, coach Brian Daboll had to be happy with two of the answers in a 28-10 loss to the Texans on Saturday.
The line was outstanding as was Nabers, who had a highlight-reel, leaping 21-yard catch along the sideline late in the first half.
Jones played in a game for the first time since tearing the ACL in his right knee in early November against the Raiders in Las Vegas. He threw two interceptions, including a Pick-6, and finished 11 of 18 for 138 yards.
The six-year veteran will need to play better for the Giants to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season. That’s especially true because New York has little behind him with veteran Drew Lock and second-year pro Tommy DeVito.
The new offensive line, put together after last year’s unit allowed a franchise record 85 sacks, was solid. The first unit of Andrew Thomas, Aaron Stinnie, John-Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten and Jermaine Eluemunor didn’t allow a sack and mostly kept a clean pocket for Jones.
However, it allowed pressure on a second-and-8 play from the New York 8. After almost being sacked, Jones threw a floater that Texans safety Jalen Pitre intercepted and returned 5 yards for a touchdown.
Jones, who had a career year in 2022 in leading New York to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, said he either should have bounced the ball near the receiver or thrown it out of bounds.
“I mean things like that are going to happen. We’ll work on it,” Daboll said Sunday in reviewing the game. “We’ll learn from it, will grow from it. We’ll be better the next time.”
Jones was also intercepted by Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. on a deep sideline pass to Jalin Hyatt. He didn’t make the same mistake in the second quarter, hitting Darius Slayton for 44-yards to set up a Devin Singletary short TD run.
“They continue to improve,” Daboll said of the line. “I’d say we’ve added good pieces in terms of the veterans. Communication, it was good to get John Michael back out there so he could work with some of the guys. Veterans that care, that are smart, that are tough, that have played the game, that are all on the same page.”
The line also has depth. Jon Runyan Jr., who left the Packers to join the Giants, didn’t play because minor shoulder injury. Evan Neal, who started at right tackle the past two years after being the No. 7 overall pick in 2022, just returned from a long rehabilitation from ankle surgery. New York also has veterans Josh Ezeudu and Austin Schlottmann as backups.
Nabers has been the star of training camp after being selected No. 6 overall in the draft. He was targeted six times Saturday and had four catches for 54 yards.
“It’s a great feeling,” Jones said after the game about working with LSU product Nabers. “I think like that, giving him a chance and letting him go get it. Yeah, like I said, we’ve made plays all training camp and good to see it on the field.”
Daboll didn’t have an update Sunday on starting inside linebacker Micah McFadden, who was carted off with a hip injury in the first half.
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