Daniel Jones’ two-interception performance in Houston drew universal criticism and created panic in the Giants’ fan base. But it also solidified an inconvenient reality:
Jones is by far the best quarterback on the Giants’ roster. And if he goes down this season, there is a chance the Giants will not win a single game thereafter.
“I thought there [were] two plays that we’d like to have back, but he played fast,” Brian Daboll said Sunday. “He operated well in the pocket … I thought he made a lot of good decisions as the game went on [and] made some nice throws. First time out there after a long layoff, live ball, it was good for him.”
Both realities can be true:
Jones’ mistakes were frighteningly familiar. They were bad signs for how the Giants’ offense may start against the Minnesota Vikings in less than three weeks. And they were reminders of why Russell Wilson felt welcome to stop by in March and why the Giants tried to trade up for a quarterback in April’s draft.
But Jones’ 44-yard throw to Darius Slayton, a 12-yard scramble on 2nd-and-14, and his 6-of-9 passing for 68 yards in the two-minute drill were reminders of what Jones can do at his best.
“Maintaining our confidence, composure and continuing to push the ball down the field, I think that’s how we got it right and got executing,” Jones said after his first game action since last November, when he tore his right ACL. “[We started] moving the ball, and I think that was important.”
No one is giving brownie points to a $40 million-a-year quarterback for making a few plays in a mistake-filled preseason game. It’s important to note that Jones only got going when the Texans took out their first-string defense, which already had been missing their three best pass rushers.
It’s just a fact that the Giants are going to go how Jones goes. No one has challenged him.
Drew Lock’s debut against Detroit was rocky: 4-of-10 for 17 yards and an interception.
In fairness to Lock, he was playing behind the backup offensive line. He actually hurt his left hip and oblique on a play when three Lions pass rushers hit him at once.
Still, Lock’s game performance before the injury looked a lot like his practices: underwhelming, with a flash here and there, but nothing close to a challenge for Jones’ job.
Then there is local hero Tommy DeVito, who is playing like a third quarterback because that is what he is. He is 18 of 34 for 167 yards in two games with a lost fumble against Houston and two touchdown drives in the Detroit opener.
The Giants did not score a single point in Houston’s second half, though. And the Giants’ leading wide receiver – a non-tight end or running back – in the Lions game was Allen Robinson II with one catch for nine yards.
Then John Jiles’ one catch for 20 yards led all Giants wide receivers for the entirety of DeVito’s second half with the backups against the Texans.
This all sets the table for an interesting final week going up against the crosstown rival Jets, who now employ last year’s capable backup, Tyrod Taylor, as Aaron Rodgers’ No. 2 in green.
The Giants made a free agent offer to Taylor this spring, but he was not going to return. They’d kept a healthy Taylor on the bench last season to leave DeVito in as the starter late in the year.
Lock was the next quarterback on their list.
Then, after the New England Patriots wouldn’t play ball at the No. 3 pick for North Carolina QB Drake Maye, the Giants did not select a quarterback anywhere in the draft.
They dodged a bullet in the short term by not taking Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, who is out for the year after tearing the meniscus in his right knee. But they do not have an exciting young prospect now to groom or play if and when Jones falters or goes down.
No silver lining behind Jones exists, other than an opportunity for the veteran Lock to prove he’s more than what he has shown to date.
The Giants are scheduled to drive to Florham Park on Wednesday for an afternoon joint practice. Then the teams will face off in a Saturday night preseason finale at MetLife Stadium.
Daboll typically sits all of his starters in the last preseason game.
The Giants have practiced a lot differently this year, so it’s possible he could run them back out on the field for a quarter Saturday to get a better taste in their mouths for September.
It certainly needs to look a lot cleaner and better when the Vikings roll into town Sept. 8.
Just remember the next time Jones steps onto the field, though, that he gives the Giants their best chance to win, such as it is.
