As far as preseason games go, this one in Houston for the New York Giants should be the closest to the real thing they have this summer.
Daniel Jones will suit up and take the field inside NRG Stadium for the first time on game day since he tore his ACL nine months ago in Las Vegas. He should have all but one of the five offensive linemen set to protect him Week 1 against the Vikings, and his top four wide receivers - Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton - should all play.
So yes, despite an ankle injury that kept him out of practice earlier this week, Nabers is expected to play.
On the defensive side of the ball, this should be our first chance to see the defensive front of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux together in uniform and in game action. The trio was held out of the preseason opener against the Lions.
Expect the entire first-team defense to get at least a quarter and maybe longer to test itself against 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and an explosive Texans' passing game with newcomer Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins. A new-look Giants secondary with Tae Banks and Nick McCloud expected at cornerback will be challenged.
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Left guard Jon Runyan (shoulder) will likely be the only projected starter on offense out of the lineup, and he's believed to be close to a return.
First half thoughts
Daniel Jones made one really bad decision and a couple bad throws.
He also played in his first game since the first week of November, and probably shouldn't be slammed and laughed at the way he's going to be, and already is on social media. Both things can be true.
No excuses. Jones needs to play better. But there is context. Just keep the context in perspective.
Jones finished the first half completing 11-of-18 passes for 138 yards, including a beautiful drop-in-bucket deep completion to Darius Slayton against the Texans' reserves.
Terrible start for Daniel Jones
About the worst decision Daniel Jones could have made and the snowball is now rolling in the opposite direction.
Jones had good protection in the shadow of the Giants' own end zone after a Dexter Lawrence knockdown of a C.J. Stroud pass forced a turnover on downs. He held the ball too long, and when a Texans' defender broke free and charged at Jones in the end zone, Jones forced a throw to rookie tight end Theo Johnson.
Houston safety Jalen Pitre read the play the entire way and walked in with a Pick 6 interception.
Keep up with our live updates from Giants-Texans throughout the day here.
Thoughts on the 'unsettled' offensive line
I have seen the word "unsettled" used to describe the state of the Giants' offensive line, and I'm not sure the negative connotation that comes with that is well-placed in this case.
Since the eve of training camp in late July, when the Giants officially decided to place Evan Neal on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, this plan was set in motion. Forget about the spring: Jermaine Eluemunor was moved to right tackle, where he played all of last season, and he's been there ever since. Neal's season is now about getting healthy and seeing if he can get to a point where he can contribute as the next tackle up.
The Giants also met with veteran Greg Van Roten two days before camp began, and when he left, team brass figured Van Roten would be a Giant. They had to work through contract details, but also, there was a desire to make sure Aaron Stinnie - who had been with the team throughout the offseason - had the chance to work in the early part of camp with the starters. When Van Roten signed, the Giants knew he needed to ramp up to game speed (and physical readiness).
At the same time, John Michael Schmitz tweaked his shoulder in practice, and the smart move was to not put him out there until he treated the injury and got back to full strength. So Van Roten stepped in at center, knowing that he'd eventually shift to right guard when JMS returned to the lineup. The shift wasn't an issue for GVR, considering he played for the same offensive line coach (Carmen Bricillo) and next to the same RT (Eluemunor) in Las Vegas last year.
We've mentioned all of this without acknowledgement that Andrew Thomas has been at left tackle the entire summer, taking every first team rep in practice.
Now that Jon Runyan is nursing a shoulder issue, the Giants pulled back on his workload and have both Stinnie and Van Roten at the guards with JMS in the middle. This isn't the kind of drastic change that, in years past, would wreck the Giants' plans.
That's why Saturday's preseason game is so intriguing for the group up front. They're going to get a chance to show how far they've come through practice, joint practices and now the games. And Runyan could be back as soon as this week.
When the season begins, the Giants are going to want this configuration: Thomas-Runyan-JMS-GVR-Eluemunor with Stinnie as the top guard reserve and Neal as the swing tackle. Maybe old friend Tyre Phillips re-signs to offer reinforcement. Rookie Jake Kubas may be a developmental prospect, but he would be the fourth option on the interior.
Nobody knows for certain if the Giants have fixed their offensive line. We won't start getting those answers until Week 1, and even then, it's going to be a process. The plan this year seems a lot sounder than last year, and it's because of last year's experience, and that's why it might not be as unsettled as it may look.
What time is NY Giants vs. Houston Texans game?
- Date:Saturday, Aug. 17
- Time:1 p.m.
- Where:NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
What channel is NY Giants vs. Houston Texans game?
- TV channel:FOX 5
