Tim Warner/Getty Images
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones said his “knee felt really good” in Saturday’s preseason loss to the Houston Texans, which marked his first game back since tearing his ACL in November.
“I feel good physically. Knee felt really good,” Jones said, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “Excited to be out there. Grateful for all the people who helped me get to this point. All the doctors and trainers and staff that have helped. It was fun to be out there.”
Jones threw two interceptions during the first quarter of the 28-10 loss, including a pick-six. He connected on 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards, while adding 12 yards on one carry.
Jones was playing in his first game action since suffering a right ACL tear while maneuvering to throw a pass during a Nov. 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Giants quarterback then underwent surgery on Nov. 22, which Raanan reported at the time would necessitate between eight and 10 months of recovery.
A 10-month recovery timeline would have put Jones on track to miss not only training camp and the entire preseason but the first two games of the regular season as well.
Luckily for the Giants’ plans of leaning on the quarterback they signed to a four-year, $160 million contract last year, Jones told reporters on Thursday that he was “confident” in his knee holding up against the Texans.
“I don’t think I’ll be thinking about my knee much,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll. “I think I’ve tested it in practice, tested it in my rehab and workouts and feel like it’s in a good place, so I think I’m confident my knee will be ready to go, won’t be something I’m thinking of.”
Even if having the quarterback available for preseason action is a best-case scenario for the current Giants roster, the two interceptions— which Jones called the results of a “bad decision and a bad throw”— marked a worrying start for a team that has indicated the 2024 season will be a make-or-break campaign for Jones.
On the bright side, Jones took minimal hits, no sacks and apparently didn’t suffer any knee pain, so the Giants can potentially give the quarterback another shot at preseason action next Saturday against the New York Giants.
