Jones Struggles in First Half in Loss to Houston

The Giants wrapped up their second preseason game with a loss this past week in Houston, raising several questions and concerns, particularly surrounding starting quarterback Daniel Jones and his inconsistent play in his first action since last season. Jones struggled early in the first quarter against the Houston Texans, appearing indecisive and uneasy.

His difficulties were most evident in the first quarter, where he threw two interceptions—the first of which was particularly troubling. This came on a brutal throw while being sacked near the Giants' goal line, resulting in a Houston pick-six. Shortly after, he led a drive into Texans territory, only to be intercepted again on a deep ball intended for Jaylin Hyatt by second-year corner Dereck Stingley. However, things improved for Jones as he later led the Giants on a seven-play, four-minute drive that culminated in a Devin Singletary one-yard touchdown run. By halftime, Jones had completed 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards with two interceptions.

One bright spot in the first half was rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. Despite a few drops, Nabers showcased his hands and contested catching ability on multiple occasions. One standout play on the right sideline saw Nabers high-point the football beautifully, demonstrating exactly what the Giants envisioned when drafting him sixth overall. The LSU alum went up aggressively, securing the catch with both feet in bounds. His four catches for 54 yards in the first half were enough for the Giants to feel confident in his performance. Considering Nabers was listed as questionable earlier in the week, his ability to play as explosively as he did was impressive.

The rest of the game saw little action from the Giants' offense, as backup QB Tommy Devito struggled to generate momentum. Running back Eric Gray had another solid performance, following up last week's game by rushing for 18 yards on three carries and leading the team with five receptions. Despite Gray’s efforts, the Giants couldn’t overcome their own mistakes, with three lost fumbles after halftime. With five total turnovers in the game, the Giants stood little chance of winning, preseason or not.

After the game, Head Coach Brian Daboll called the fumbles and turnovers "unacceptable." While not a groundbreaking revelation, it clearly showed his displeasure with how both his starting QB handled the early part of the game and how the team managed the offense as a whole. Speaking specifically about Jones' turnovers, Daboll described the first one as "a poor decision," which most would agree with. With the regular season rapidly approaching, the Giants and their starting QB will need to tighten up if they hope to improve. Whether the starters will see more playing time in the final preseason game remains to be seen, but they will need to sharpen their skills in practice to be ready for a Week 1 matchup against the Vikings.