EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is ready to play against the Houston Texans on Saturday in what would be his first game since sustaining a major injury to his right knee in early November.
Jones spent the past eight months rehabbing his knee after having surgery around Thanksgiving to repair the ACL hurt on Nov. 5 in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
It went so well, the 27-year-old attended organized team activities and a mandatory minicamp in the spring and has been taking first-team reps since training camp started on July 24.
The 2019 first-round draft pick — No. 6 overall — didn't play in the preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, but he is looking forward to the trip to Houston.
“It’s exciting,” Jones said Thursday after the Giants held their final practice this week. "I’ll be excited to be out there again, just going through the game routine, the pregame, getting out there, playing, in front of a crowd. I think, you know, all that’s exciting.”
There are a lot of players coming off injuries that are always waiting to see how they take their first hit. While Jones would prefer not to take a hit in playing for the first time without his protective red non-contact jersey, he is not worried about his knee.
“I think I’ve tested it,' he said. “I've tested it in practice, tested in my rehab and workouts and feel like it’s in a good place. So yeah, I’m confident my knee will be ready to go.”
Jones said he also is not concerned about his neck. He missed three games last season after hurting it in a game against Miami. His season was limited to six games and he finished 108 of 160 for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions. New York finished 6-11.
The disappointing season came a year after Jones had a career year in 2022 and led the Giants to their first playoff berth since 2016. He was given a four-year, $160 million contract.
Jones has looked good at times in camp and he has regained his ability to run. His consistency has been off at times, but there have been some long exciting plays with throws to first-round draft pick Malik Nabers and second-year pro Jalin Hyatt.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said he wants to see Jones get a feel for working with the offense under game conditions.
“He’s played a lot of football," Kafka said. “He’s a veteran guy, so it’s nothing about that part of it. It’s more just the group, our offense kind of getting together and working together, communicating all the things that we’ve been stressing all offseason.”
Jones has no idea how long he will play, saying that's up to coach Brian Daboll. He also had no idea how long he will stick with his new beard.
“I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the beard. It’s not a new me, but we’ll see,” he said.
The Giants' quarterback situation is uncertain this week. Backup Drew Lock hurt his hip in the first quarter against Detroit and Tommy DeVito played the final three quarters. Lock didn't take any snaps in practice this week so the bulk of the work will go to DeVito again.
Tight end Tyree Jackson was supposed to be the emergency quarterback. The former college quarterback at Buffalo left the field after hurting his left foot making a catch in practice.
New York made a couple of roster moves Thursday. The Giants terminated the contract of defensive back Jalen Mills after he failed his physical. He has been on the non-football injury list since camp opened. The Giants signed running back Josh Kelley and safeties Jonathan Sutherland and Raheem Layne.
In another move, Dallas acquired veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and a seventh-round draft pick in 2026 from the Giants for a sixth-round pick in 2026.
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