New York, August 17, 2024 – In his first game since a devastating ACL injury last season, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had a rough start. Jones, who hadn’t seen game action since tearing his ACL on November 5, 2023, threw two interceptions in a preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. The Giants were defeated by the Texans 28-10.
Jones was cleared for training camp and was expected to play last week against the Detroit Lions. However, the Giants held him out to ensure he was fully prepared for this week’s game. His first appearance back on the field lasted until halftime, where he completed 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards. Despite flashes of his old self, the interceptions proved costly.
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The first interception came during Jones’ second drive. Under heavy pressure in his own end zone, Jones attempted to make a desperation pass. Houston’s Jalen Pitre was in the right place at the right time and picked off the pass, returning it 5 yards for a touchdown. The mistake put the Giants down 7-0 early in the game.
Jones’ troubles didn’t end there. On the following drive, as the Giants were making progress down the field, Jones took a deep shot toward Jalin Hyatt. However, Houston’s Derek Stingley had other plans. He jumped in front of the pass near the end zone, picking off Jones for the second time. The Texans maintained control of the game from that point on.
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Despite the early struggles, Jones showed some signs of improvement once Houston’s starters were mostly benched. He led a solid 63-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary, which tied the game 7-7 early in the second quarter. Jones’ performance improved as he found a rhythm, though the damage from the early turnovers had already been done.
Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who played just one quarter after making his preseason debut last week, threw for 88 yards. While the Texans didn’t score on Stroud’s first drive, he looked comfortable before being replaced by Case Keenum at the start of the second quarter.
One of the bright spots for the Texans was John Metchie, who led the team with six receptions for 68 yards. Metchie, who missed his rookie season while undergoing treatment for cancer, had an emotional return to the field. He even caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Case Keenum, which helped the Texans regain the lead at 14-7 in the second quarter.
Another standout performance came from New York’s Malik Nabers, the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft. Nabers, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury, made his presence felt just before halftime. He leaped for a 21-yard catch that helped set up a Giants field goal, cutting Houston’s lead to 14-10 heading into the break. Nabers ended the game with four receptions for 54 yards.
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The second half saw Houston pull away as undrafted rookie British Brooks added two more touchdowns on the ground. Brooks scored from 6 yards out and later from 15 yards in the fourth quarter, extending Houston’s lead to 28-10.
While Jones’ return was far from perfect, the Giants are hopeful he can continue to shake off the rust as the preseason progresses. The coaching staff will be looking to protect their quarterback and help him regain his confidence as he recovers from the serious knee injury.
Injuries also piled up for the Giants in this game. Linebacker Micah McFadden was carted off the field in the first quarter after suffering a hip injury. Offensive lineman Ryder Anderson also left early in the game with a hamstring injury. Later, linebacker Matthew Adams exited in the third quarter with a groin injury, adding to New York’s injury concerns as the regular season approaches.
In a separate incident, the roof of NRG Stadium in Houston remained damaged from Hurricane Beryl last month. The retractable roof sustained damage during the Category 1 storm, and some of the panels have yet to be repaired. On Saturday, parts of the roof near one end zone were missing, allowing sunlight to pour onto the field. The Texans have said that supplies to fix the roof have been difficult to obtain, and repairs might not be completed until a month into the regular season.
Before the game, the Texans honored former wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who passed away last month from heart disease at the age of 40. Jones was drafted by the Texans in 2007 and spent five seasons with the team. His family was present on the field during the pregame introductions, and his son Jacoby Jones Jr. fired the cannon before the team ran out onto the field, paying tribute to his father.
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Looking ahead, the Giants will end their preseason schedule against the New York Jets next Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Texans will host a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday before wrapping up the preseason against the Rams next weekend.
The Giants hope that Daniel Jones will continue to progress as he gets more game time under his belt. For now, his return was marked by struggles, but there are still signs of hope for the season ahead
