HOUSTON — Daniel Jones’ top weapon has always been a running back in Saquon Barkley. Now Brian Daboll’s offense is pivoting to a focus on rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers and Jones’ arm.
Three weeks into training camp, that means Daboll, Jones and the Giants’ offense are still in the process of creating their new identity for 2024. That’s one reason Saturday’s preseason game against the Texans at NRG Stadium is so critical:
It is a dress rehearsal for Jones and the Giants’ regular season starters to feel out who they are truly going to be going up against an AFC rising star.
“We’re still working through exactly what our offense is going to major in, what we’re best at, what we’re not as good at,” Jones said after Thursday’s practice. “I think that’s what training camp is for, largely.”
The urgency to find answers soon is palpable, though.
Daboll is on the hot seat if the Giants don’t start the regular season well. Jones’ Giants career is on the line after all of America watched his team search for his replacement this offseason.
A roster that belongs almost entirely to GM Joe Schoen needs to develop and produce results, or else where is this going?
Nabers was not targeted in the Giants’ preseason opener against Detroit by Drew Lock, so he still doesn’t have a target or a catch in a game, let alone a single rep with Jones in one.
Thursday’s practice was interesting.
Several of the Giants’ injured players were still dressed in uniform and cleats holding their helmets on the sideline or standing with the team during drills.
Linebacker Dyontae Johnson was even riding a stationary bike in plain sight despite wearing an enormous gray boot on his left foot for an injured ankle.
It was the continuation of a dramatically more demanding training camp than the rest-filled summer break that the Giants’ August resembled a year ago.
This reflects the Giants’ pressure to win early against teams like the Vikings and Commanders in Weeks 1 and 2. It also provides a reminder that this is a first-year coaching staff in many key areas, including on defense, that is assimilating quickly into a big spot.
The encouraging part here for the Giants is that Jones, their $40 million a year franchise quarterback, is healthy and ready to go.
The Giants easily could have been their Week 1 opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round, only to lose him for the season with a torn meniscus.
Instead, they chose Nabers No. 6 overall and dodged the bullet of drafting and then losing Jones’ successor in a matter of months. Now, as fellow wide receiver Jalin Hyatt said, there is a “big emphasis” on unlocking more explosive plays in the passing game downfield.
Jones’ twice-injured neck and surgically-repaired right ACL were major question marks this spring. But now Jones said he’s “ready to go” and not concerned about his knee.
“I don’t think I’ll be thinking about my knee much,” he said. “I’ve tested it in practice, tested it in my rehab and workouts and feel like it’s in a good place. I’m confident my knee will be ready to go… I’m not too concerned about that first hit.”
Left tackle Andrew Thomas said Jones’ work ethic made teammates confident throughout the offseason that their top quarterback would be ready when camp rolled around, too.
“If it was anything he could control, as far as rehab and recovery, he was gonna get it done,” Thomas said Thursday.
Jones is also operating with a new edge.
He has admitted several times that he didn’t enjoy watching the Giants’ quarterback search this spring. He even said it ticked him off in a candid interview with GoLongTD.com.
Thursday, he also bristled at a question about whether he would have to wear extra protection around his neck, which he has injured each of the past two seasons.
“There’s no concern with the neck,” Jones said, glaring. “My neck is 100 percent good.”
He has acknowledged he has a chip on his shoulder, that he’s as motivated as ever although he doesn’t need the fuel.
Even his new beard, which is a fun social media topic, reflects that Jones is channeling a new vibe and a different energy.
He’s less clean cut. His new look says that he knows appearances no longer matter; results do.
“I don’t know,” Jones said, laughing, when asked if he’d keep the beard. “I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the beard. It’s not a new me, but we’ll see. We’ll see what happens.”
Whether Nabers (left ankle sprain) plays or not against the Texans, he’ll be a major factor that determines which way this season goes.
“Malik’s going to be a big part of what we do for sure, and he’s shown up through camp, made a ton of big plays for us,” Jones said. “He’s going to help us out a ton. How the offense looks and how it presents itself on Sundays I think depends on who we’re playing and what the game plan calls for.”
“But we have a lot of confidence in Malik and all our wide receivers and our running backs,” he added. “I think we’ve got a talented group.”
The task at hand Saturday now is for Jones and the starters to set an encouraging foundation as they ramp up towards Sept. 8 against Minnesota at MetLife Stadium.
“You expect a high level of execution,” Jones said. “I think we want to take what we’ve practiced, what we’ve prepared and put it on the field. It won’t be perfect, but we expect it to be good.”
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