Giants’ Daniel Jones Struggled Early in 1st Quarter Return Against Texans

The New York Giants found themselves trailing 0-7 at the end of the first quarter against the Houston Texans in their Week 2 preseason matchup, with quarterback Daniel Jones experiencing a difficult start in his first game back after a nine-month recovery from a torn ACL. Jones, who was eager to make a strong return, quickly faced adversity as the Texans' defense capitalized on his early struggles.

In the opening quarter, Jones threw two interceptions to Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., both of which halted promising Giants drives. The situation worsened when Jones threw a third interception to safety Jalen Pitre , who returned the pick for a five-yard touchdown, putting the Giants in an early hole. Jones also narrowly avoided a safety, only to have Pitre make the play in the end zone, further compounding his rough start.

The Giants' offense struggled to find rhythm in the first quarter, with Jones connecting with Malik Nabers for one catch of 14 yards and Theo Johnson for a single catch of four yards. Despite these limited gains, the Giants were unable to put points on the board, and Jones' turnovers overshadowed any positive plays.

Related: Texans Beat Giants 28-10: Jones Returns, First-Team Defense Shines

Determined to bounce back, Jones continued to play through the second quarter, attempting to regain his footing and lead the Giants back into the game. By the end of the half, he had completed 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards but was unable to shake off the impact of his two interceptions. His efforts ultimately fell short, as the Giants trailed 10-14 at halftime.

Giants backup quarterback Tommy DeVito took over at the start of the second half, marking the end of Jones’ day. The Giants ultimately fell to the Texans, losing the game 28-10, with Jones' early struggles setting the tone for the rest of the matchup.