Giants QB Jones Confirms Health After Return to Game Action

The New York Giants welcomed quarterback Daniel Jones back to game action on Saturday when they visited the Houston Texans for a preseason affair.

It didn’t go swimmingly.

Jones was nearly intercepted on his first pass and would be picked off twice before the second quarter began, dampening some of the excitement this offseason has generated. However, Saturday was never about wins and losses – New York fell, 28-10 – nor was it truly about his performance.

It was about giving Jones exposure to real NFL football.

Jones exceeded expectations in his recovery, was on the field for OTAs, 100 percent for training camp, and well on track for Week 1. He was moving well and publicly confident in his surgically repaired knee.

But things are different when the bullets are flying, when defenders can take down the quarterback, and when their livelihoods can depend on doing so.

Jones came out the other side of Saturday’s loss as confident as he entered it.

"I feel good physically,” Jones said . “Yeah, the knee felt good. Felt really good and excited to be out there, grateful for all the people who've helped me get to this point, all the doctors and trainers and 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 felt good."

Jones finished his day completing 11 of 18 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t take a sack but did rush once for 12 yards.

Related: Giants' Daniel Jones Preseason Debut: Patience or Panic?

It wasn’t perfect, nor was it close. But physically, New York couldn’t have asked for much more from his quarterback just nine months removed from his season-ending injury.

The quarterback continued to confirm how he felt just hours after taking the field.

"Good. Really good. It's good. Yeah, I feel good."