Giants’ Darius Slayton proves he remains a reliable target for Daniel Jones

HOUSTON — When did Daniel Jones finally start to feel comfortable in his first game after an accelerated ninth-month comeback from ACL surgery?

“Maybe the go-ball to Darius,” Jones said in reference to Darius Slayton’s 44-yard second-quarter reception. “He made a great play on that and got behind the defense.”

A seemingly annual rite of summer has happened again: Hype is building around other receivers while Slayton, who has led the Giants in receiving yards in four of his five NFL seasons, steadily produces in the background because of his time-tested rapport with Jones.

The Giants started three of general manager Joe Schoen’s draft picks at receiver Saturday against the Texans — Malik Nabers, Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson — but it was Old Reliable who made the biggest offensive gain of a 28-10 preseason loss.

Jones and Slayton have been teammates since they both were 2019 draft picks.

“It’s been important for us all preseason to have an emphasis on trying to get the ball down the field and create more explosives,” Slayton said. “Obviously, I was able to make that one, and it led to a touchdown. Hopefully as the year goes, we can continue to do that.”

Slayton held out from voluntary spring workouts for a couple weeks before another $650,000 in hard-to-reach incentives were added to his contract.

He enters his walk year splitting reps with Hyatt, who this regime wants to see develop into a long-term option, at the outside position opposite Nabers.

“I’ve played a lot with Darius and have a lot of trust and confidence in him,” Jones said. “He’s always in the right spot, and he’s got the speed to take the top off [the defense] and make plays. He’s had a good camp.”

Like Hyatt, Slayton’s best asset is speed. But Slayton is the Giants’ second-most complete receiver right now (after Nabers).

“When Slay made that tough grab,” Nabers said, “it fueled the offense.”

Slayton’s stock is up entering the last week of training camp. Here are eight others who are trending in one direction or the other:

Stock up

DT Elijah Chatman: The 278-pound undrafted rookie set NFL social-circles ablaze with his cut-off speed to make a tackle 40 yards downfield on running back J.J. Taylor. Giants analyst Carl Banks thinks the play clinched Chatman’s roster spot. But did you also notice that he was getting first-team reps on passing downs in place of Rakeem Nunez-Roches?

Pass protection: With four of the five projected Week 1 starters playing together for three series — left guard Jon Runyan Jr. sat with an injury and center John Michael Schmitz was on a 15-snap count — the Giants didn’t allow a sack. Yes, the Texans sat their top three edge rushers. But the bar was on the ground after last season’s group allowed a franchise-record 85 sacks. Jones had time to operate, especially during the no-huddle four-minute drill for a field goal.

WR Isaiah McKenzie: With Gunner Olszewski (groin) now week-to-week only nine days from cut-down day, McKenzie might have won a job. He returned three kickoffs and one punt for a total of 95 yards.

S Tyler Nubin: The rookie second-round pick continues to ride a rocket ship after missing most of the first week-plus of camp. He split starting reps with Dane Belton and drew a holding penalty to negate a 23-yard gain.

Stock down

Jones: The alarming part of Jones’ mostly ugly return — two interceptions that easily could’ve been three before Slayton’s big play — was that the mistakes were not rust-related. He made a “poor decision” leading to a pick-six and a “bad throw” to take at least three potential points off the board. Performances like that one during the regular season could threaten Jones’ job security for the first time in his six-year career.

TE Daniel Bellinger: The former rookie starter was in line to reclaim his job when Darren Waller retired. But rookie Theo Johnson has the upper hand. And the Giants just signed fullback Jakob Johnson — a veteran favorite of offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo — to reduce Bellinger’s role in the backfield.

CB Isaiah Simmons: Versatile? Or position-less? Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen envisioned a big slot-cornerback role for Simmons, who played inside linebacker last season. Maybe that will work in obvious run situations or against tight ends. But if he is matched up against a fast receiver, quarterbacks will attack, as Case Keenum did for a touchdown on John Metchie’s out route.

Inside linebackers: D’yontae Johnson (ankle), Micah McFadden (hip), Matthew Adams (groin) and Carter Coughlin (quad) are on the injury report. Johnson is in a walking boot and McFadden was carted off. Head coach Brian Daboll didn’t offer any injury updates Sunday. Here comes a late showcase for Darrian Beavers and rookie Darius Muasau.