New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones faced a challenging return from a torn ACL, throwing two interceptions in the first quarter, with one being returned for a touchdown, during a 28-10 defeat against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
In his first game action since suffering a knee injury in November, Jones’s initial performance was rocky, as he threw two interceptions within his first three drives. He nearly added a third on his opening pass of the game.
“Obviously the first quarter didn’t go how we wanted it,” Jones acknowledged in a post-game press conference. “Bad decision and a bad throw [on the interception for a touchdown].”
Jones completed 11 passes out of 18 attempts for 138 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He managed to lead a couple of scoring drives in the second half.
His first significant error occurred during the Giants’ second drive, when he attempted a risky throw while under pressure from Texans linebacker Derek Barnett. In a dangerous situation in the end zone, Jones attempted to throw to tight end Theo Johnson, leading to Texans safety Jalen Pitre intercepting the pass at the Giants’ 6-yard line and easily scoring a touchdown.
After the game, Jones admitted he should have thrown the ball at Johnson’s feet to avoid giving it up. New York head coach Brian Daboll also recognized this as a costly mistake.
On the subsequent drive, Jones targeted covered wide receiver Jalin Hyatt down the right sideline, but Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. made a diving interception, which Daboll viewed as a reasonable move, though he acknowledged that the pass was poorly placed.
Despite the rough start, Jones showed signs of improvement before the first half ended, notably connecting with wide receiver Darius Slayton for a 44-yard gain, setting the stage for a touchdown by running back Devin Singletary shortly after. The Giants tacked on a field goal just before halftime during a two-minute drill.
“I felt good to execute and move the ball during the two-minute drive,” Jones said, emphasizing contributions from his teammates, including rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who recorded four catches for 54 yards.
While the slow start was a concern, Jones had not played in a real game scenario for over nine months. He did manage to avoid significant hits, rushing for 12 yards without being sacked.
“I feel good physically. My knee felt really good,” Jones expressed post-game. “I’m excited to be out there and grateful to all the people who helped me get to this point, including doctors, trainers, and staff. It was fun to be back on the field.”