Daniel Jones jumped back into the deep end Saturday and certainly required time to acclimate.
Playing in his first game since tearing his ACL last November, Jones began his comeback bid disastrously against the Houston Texans before rebounding to assuage some fears of the Big Blue hopeful.
Head coach Brian Daboll noted the gaffes along with positives in his postgame news conference, providing a reminder that this is what preseason is all about.
“That's what these games are for too," Daboll said, per the team transcript. "Some evaluation part of it, but, obviously you have a plan going into it. it's a little bit different than I would say a regular season game where you're scheming and doing things like that. I wanted to make sure we had enough plays where we were throwing it down the field, giving opportunities to throw it down the field. Again, there was some good things, good to get him out here and then a couple things we'll learn from, and that's what these things are for.”
Although the end result isn't cause for alarm bells just yet, whatever plan or pleasant expectations Jones and Co. entered the contest with could not have derailed faster.
On his very first snap, Jones ripped an ill-advised pass into Houston cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.'s chest. It fell harmlessly to the ground, but New York failed to make the Texans pay or even move the chains. Jones wouldn't be so lucky on his next possession, when he made a panicked throw from his end zone to avoid giving up two points on a safety -- only to bump that number up to seven by hand-delivering an interception touchdown to safety Jalen Pitre.
"Bad decision and a bad throw," Jones said, via the team website. "I think in a situation like that, obviously you're being tackled in the end zone, so intentional grounding there is a safety. So, just making sure you dirt (throw) it at his feet, so there's no chance for intentional grounding. Obviously can't take a sack there in the end zone."
He managed some initial momentum on his next chance out. He also looked fearless on a 12-yard scramble. However, he again turned the ball over after leaving a deep pass for wide receiver Jalin Hyatt too far inside, where this time Stingley capitalized.
Within his first five offensive snaps, Jones endured a three-and-out and a pick-six. After one quarter, he and the offense had managed just 43 yards and two giveaways.
He had gone full Tin Man, but even if some of his mistakes were characteristic of those he's made in the past, rust was to be expected. It takes game reps to feel the rush or develop consistent accuracy.
And Jones shook it off provided the whole first half to work with.
The 27-year-old connected on all three of his passes for 52 yards on the first drive of the second quarter, including a 44-yarder dotted to Darius Slayton down the sideline in a similar situation to his interception a possession earlier. That set running back Devin Singletary up to plunge from the 1 for a score two plays later.
Jones' hurry-up routine before halftime resulted in a field goal on his final drive of the day, a march that notably included finding rookie standout Malik Nabers three times for 40 yards.
"I think we overall got some things going in the second quarter and executed and moved the ball," Jones said. "I was happy with how we responded that second quarter."
Jones finished 11 of 18 for 138 yards, two interceptions and responsible for two scoring drives. New York wouldn't find points again without him and lost, 28-10.
It didn't end up a rousing success by any means after starting out so ghastly -- plus naysayers will correctly point out that Nabers required circus catches to reel in half of his four total receptions from Jones -- but the QB improved and settled in.
Most importantly, Jones also emerged from the game healthy.
"I feel good physically," Jones said. "Felt really good and excited to be out there. Grateful for all the people who have helped me get to this point. All the doctors and trainers and the staff we have here who have helped me. It was fun to be out there. Didn't start perfect, like I said, but we got going and I feel good physically."