Entering a make-it-or-break-it season, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones certainly didn’t offer any optimism Saturday in their second preseason game at the Houston Texans.
The Giants showed their belief in the sixth-year quarterback when they passed on taking a quarterback in the first round of this year’s draft, instead giving Jones a potential No. 1 wide receiver in Malik Nabers. This is coming a year after the Giants gave Jones a four-year, $160 million extension.
Jones, coming back from a torn ACL in Week 9 of the 2023 season, didn’t play in the Giants’ first preseason game last week. But he got the start Saturday in Houston, and social media had some strong reactions to a play Jones would like to forget very quickly.
NFL Fans Go Off on Daniel Jones in Lackluster Preseason Debut
Jones struggled mightily in 2023, throwing for just two touchdowns and six interceptions in just six games before suffering a torn ACL in Week 9.
It appears Jones has picked up right where he left off in 2023. That is, throwing the ball to the other team.
Midway through the first quarter, Jones was being pulled down in the end zone by the Texans’ Derek Barnett. Trying to avoid a safety, Jones frantically got rid of the ball and threw it right to Texans defensive back Jalen Pitre. Pitre raced straight into the end zone for a pick-six, prompting a “Sharp” welcome back for Jones on social media.
the $160,000,000 man is back pic.twitter.com/OGerlidpuL
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball)
Sometimes, it’s better to take the sack instead of throwing a pick. That’s especially true if it means giving up just two points as opposed to six.
To make matters worse for the Giants, they opted to pay Jones instead of former running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on the first day of free agency this past offseason. And while we haven’t seen Barkley with the Eagles long enough to know if the Eagles made a good singing, the Giants certainly aren’t making things better for themselves opting to extend Jones over Barkley.
The Giants giving Daniel Jones a 4 year 160M contract is definitely looking like one of the worst deals of all time. https://t.co/8AdOWScfdI
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA)
The Giants’ 2023 season got off to a disastrous start with a 40-0 home drubbing against the Dallas Cowboys. Their season unraveled from there, with Jones struggling and more blowout losses ensuing.
A promising finish, though, cast optimism that the Giants’ 2024 season could be better than 2023. But Jones’s pick-six certainly isn’t going to keep that optimism high ahead of the regular season.
daniel jones throwing the worst pick of the preseason probably tells you everything you need to know about the giants’ season
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_)
It was evident the Giants’ 2023 season was going to go south after their Week 1 blowout loss to the Cowboys. And while it’s just the preseason in 2024, Jones’ disastrous pick-six in his own end zone is the latest example of why the Giants may have chosen the wrong player to give a massive extension.
Daniel Jones already in mid-season form 💪
pic.twitter.com/ZYKMkkQ2ps— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL)
If that play doesn’t suggest Jones is in mid-season form, he threw another pick in the first quarter, this time to Derek Stingley Jr.
IN. HIS. BAG.
📺: ABC13 pic.twitter.com/WM5ZsRwtF5
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans)
It’s not the start from their starting quarterback that Giants fans were hoping for. But if you’re a Giants fan looking for a positive spin, remember, it’s just the preseason.