New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones faced a challenging return from a torn ACL as he threw two interceptions during the first quarter of a 28-10 defeat to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown.
This marked Jones’ first game action since his ACL injury in November, and he struggled, throwing two picks on his first three drives, with another near-miss on his initial pass of the game. After the game, he acknowledged the first quarter did not go as planned, attributing part of his struggles to poor decisions, particularly on the interception that resulted in a touchdown.
Jones completed 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards without any touchdowns and had two interceptions. He did manage to guide the team to two scoring drives in the second half.
His costly first interception occurred during the Giants’ second drive. Under pressure from Texans defensive end Derek Barnett while backed up in the end zone, Jones made a risky decision to throw a pass to tight end Theo Johnson. The pass was intercepted by Texans safety Jalen Pitre, who then easily returned it for a touchdown.
After the game, Jones admitted he should have just thrown the ball at his receiver’s feet instead. Coach Brian Daboll agreed that it was a poor decision, especially for a veteran signal-caller.
The second interception came on the Giants’ following drive when Jones attempted to connect with receiver Jalin Hyatt, who was well-covered. Texas cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. made a diving pick, a throw that Daboll felt was reasonable, though Jones needed to place the ball better.
As the game progressed, Jones found some rhythm, making a significant connection with wide receiver Darius Slayton for a 44-yard gain, leading to a touchdown run by Devin Singletary shortly afterward. The Giants later added a field goal just before halftime.
Jones expressed satisfaction with the execution of the two-minute drill. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers stood out with four catches for 54 yards, including a notable leaping catch that helped set up the field goal.
Despite the rough start, there was no consensus that it could be blamed on rust, considering this was Jones’ first live-game scenario since his injury. Notably, he moved well during the game, avoiding significant hits and staying uninjured.
“I feel good physically. Knee felt really good,” Jones said after the game, expressing gratitude for the support he received from medical staff and excitement to return to the field.