Notebook: Daniel Jones returns to game action

HOUSTON – His quarterback played in his first game after a long absence and connected with two of his top receivers. But football is a results business, even when the games don’t count in the standings, so Brian Daboll had other issues on his mind when he spoke to the media after the Giants’ 28-10 preseason loss to the Houston Texans in NRG Stadium.

“Tough to win a game when you turn the ball over five times, start with that,” Daboll said.

The two issues are not completely separate. Playing in his first game since tearing his ACL last Nov. 5, Daniel Jones was tagged with two of the turnovers, throwing interceptions on the Giants’ second and third offensive possessions. The first was an ill-advised pass that Jalen Pitre returned five yards for a touchdown. The second was a throw to Jalin Hyatt that Derek Stingley, Jr. picked off at the one-yard line with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter.

“A little shaky to start,” Jones said. “Obviously, the first quarter didn’t go how we wanted.”

But Jones’ return was still the game’s most significant Giants development. Particularly since he completed four passes for a team-high 54 yards to Malik Nabers, the first catches for the sensational first-round draft choice, who showed off his athletic ability on an acrobatic 21-yard reception. Jones and Darius Slayton hooked up for a 44-yard pass that set up the Giants’ only touchdown and completed a successful two-minute drive.

Jones, Slayton and Dexter Lawrence are members of the 2019 draft class and the longest-tenured Giants.

“It was awesome, like old times, like no time had passed,” said Slayton, who caught three passes for 59 yards. “Obviously, I love having him back out there and hopefully he can stay healthy, and we’ll have a lot of fun this year.”

Jones didn’t play in the preseason opener last week and Nabers did not catch a pass, but Saturday it seemed they had played together for years.

“We’re on the same page,” Nabers said. “The chemistry is there. There’s still a lot of stuff to clean up, but the chemistry is there out on the field.”

Jones played each of the Giants’ five first half possessions, covering 30 snaps. They were evenly divided, with Jones under center and in shotgun for 15 snaps apiece. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards, gained 12 yards on his only rushing attempt and was not sacked.

“One of the plans was to call some play actions, throw a bunch of deep balls today just to see how our line does (and) let him drop back,” Daboll said. “Feel a little bit of rush when it’s live and then try to push the ball down the field, which has been a point of emphasis. … You have a plan going in. It’s a little bit different than a regular-season game, where you’re scheming and doing things like that.”

As Jones noted, his first quarter was rocky. He threw two incompletions – including Nabers’ drop on the game’s first third down – as the Giants went three-and-out on the game’s first possession. After a fourth-down stop by the defense, they took the next possession on their own six-yard line. Two plays later, Jones dropped back into the end zone, where he was bearhugged by defensive end Derek Barnett. He still threw the ball, which Pitre easily picked off and took the short distance to the end zone.

“Bad decision and a bad throw,” Jones said. “I think in a situation like that, obviously you’re being tackled in the end zone, so intentional grounding there is a safety. So, just making sure you dirt (throw) it at his feet, so there’s no chance for intentional grounding. Obviously can’t take a sack there in the end zone.”

Daboll said Jones made a “poor decision. … we’ll evaluate it. That’s what these games are for.”

Six plays into the Giants’ next possession, they had a first down at the Texans’ 33-yard line. Hyatt seemed to have a step on Stingley, but the cornerback leaped and intercepted the ball.

“I left the ball inside – just a bad throw,” Jones said. “Gotta miss outside in that situation when you throw it down the field.”

For the second straight game, the Giants scored all their points in the second quarter. Two plays after Slayton’s long reception, Devin Singletary scored on a one-yard run.

“It was good to finish that drive like that to get a touchdown,” Daboll said.

After the Texans took a 14-7 lead, the Giants took over on their own 23-yard line with 3:43 remaining in the half. They got as far as the Houston 13 before Graham Gano kicked a 31-yard field goal.

“I think we overall got some things going in the second quarter and executed and moved the ball,” Jones said. “I was happy with how we responded that second quarter.”

The Giants’ other turnovers were committed by reserves, as backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, wide receiver John Jiles and running back Lorenzo Lingard all lost fumbles on consecutive fourth quarter possessions.

“(You) don’t give yourself much of a chance when you turn the ball over,” Daboll said. “Obviously something we need to improve on.”

Despite the miscues, the Giants’ big picture looks much brighter with Jones having passed his first game test in more than nine months. Daboll hasn’t said if Jones will play in the preseason finale next week against the Jets. The regular season begins Sept. 8 against the Minnesota Vikings.

“First game back after a little bit of a layoff,” Daboll said. “Scrambled for a first down. Did some good things, but obviously all of us can do better. It is his first game back and you’re trying to get ready for a game that’s not far off.”

Jones will be sharper as he shakes off the rust. Though disappointed about the interceptions, he knows the biggest news is that he is back on the field.

“I feel good physically, felt really good and excited to be out there,” he said. “Grateful for all the people who have helped me get to this point. All the doctors and trainers and the staff we have here who have helped me. It was fun to be out there. Didn’t start perfect, like I said, but we got going and I feel good physically.”

Which is really the news of the day.