‘I’m ready to go’: Daniel Jones excited about first game since injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Perhaps the most noteworthy event of the Giants’ preseason will take place Saturday when quarterback Daniel Jones sees his first game action since tearing his right ACL last Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.

Jones is expected to start when the Giants visit the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium. He did not play in the preseason opening victory against Detroit. Coach Brian Daboll has not said how long Jones and the other starters will play.

“I’m ready to play as much as Dabs wants me to play,” Jones said. “I don’t know (how long he’ll be on the field.) That’s probably a better question for him and kind of how he’s seeing the whole situation. But I’m ready to play and looking forward to getting out there.”

Jones’ expectations are both modest and vital.

“For one, it’s the first time out in the game situation, live situation,” he said after practice today. “So, you want the operation to be clean and out of the huddle at the line of scrimmage, communicating with the guys and making sure we’re ready to go. And then obviously you expect a high level of execution. I think we want to take what we’ve practiced, what we’ve prepared, and put it on the field. And it won’t be perfect, but we expect it to be good. So, I think we’re ready to go.”

Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka concurred.

“I think just getting Daniel in the mix with all 11 guys and the groupings and kind of that first group in there just to get a feel for everybody, whether it’s the offensive line, the receivers, and just continue to work together,” he said. “We have worked well all camp, and so this is just another opportunity in the preseason to get it with live bullets.”

Though Jones didn’t play last week, this will not be his first look at an opposing defense. He participated in two joint practices with the Lions. But games are much different than practice.

“I think it’s a little bit faster,” Jones said. “And the pass rush is real. They can hit you in the game. So just feeling that, sensing that, but I think that just comes down to getting the ball out on time, moving well in the pocket. All the things you work on in a practice situation get tested in a game when you can get hit.”

Jones has participated in every training camp practice. His accuracy has improved in recent workouts, and he clearly enjoys working with this group of receivers, including a pair of rookies, wideout Malik Nabers and tight end Theo Johnson.

Except for the sessions with Detroit, the Giants have not used 7-on-7 passing drills in camp, as Daboll has opted for more 11-on-11 team drills.

“He’s made strides every day,” Daboll said this week of Jones. “It’s some new guys that we’re throwing to. It’s the first time he’s been in team (since his injury). It’s been a steady improvement from when we started when he had his first go through in team and had people around his legs. There’s new things, new pieces, new tight ends, new receiver. So, that’s always a work in progress. At least that I’ve been part of, in training camp, when you’re dealing with new pieces and things like that. Him coming back from the injury, I think he’s done a fantastic job. He’s continuing to grow, and he’s done well here these last couple weeks.”

“He’s doing a great job,” Kafka said. “Each day he’s just getting a little bit better. I think those are things that we’ve talked about, whether it’s his footwork, whether it’s his progressions, whether it’s just communicating with the offensive line and kind of getting that feedback as well. He’s part of it. He’s one-eleventh of that group, but he’s a big part of that, and I think he’s doing a really nice job.”

Jones has plenty to think about as he prepares for his first game, but his knee is not a concern. He has been running and throwing for many months.

“I don’t think I’ll be thinking about my knee much,” Jones said. “I think I’ve tested it. I’ve tested it in practice, tested it in my rehab and workouts and feel like it’s in a good place. So, I’m confident my knee will be ready to go. It won’t be something I’m thinking about much.”

The big difference Saturday is he will be wearing the same white jersey as his teammates, instead of the bright red do-not-touch jersey he wears in practice. If any of the Texans’ defenders have a shot to hit Jones, they will take advantage of it. And it will be the first hard hit Jones has absorbed in more than nine months.

“I’m not seeing it differently than I would any other year,” Jones said. “I think with the first hit of the season and playing again after time off. Maybe I’ve had a little bit longer time off than in a normal situation. But as far as my knee or any of that, I’m not too concerned about that first hit. But like any preseason or like any first contact of the year, I think that kind of makes you feel like football again.”

Sensibly, Jones said “he wouldn’t mind” if that initial contact doesn’t occur Saturday. “I’m certainly not trying to get hit,” he said.

No matter what happens, Jones is happy to play in a game again.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’ll be excited to be out there again and just going through the game routine, the pregame, getting out there, playing in front of a crowd. I think all that’s exciting. So, I’m looking forward to doing that again.”