The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

Hackenberg up and down in pro debut

- By Dennis Waszak Jr.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. >> Christian Hackenberg jogged onto the field at MetLife Stadium to cheers from New York Jets fans who had been waiting all summer to see the rookie quarterbac­k play.

He gave them a lot more to be excited about just a few minutes later.

The second-round draft pick from Penn State threw a touchdown pass on his first drive in an up-anddown NFL debut in the Jets’ 21-20 loss to the Giants on Saturday night. He also tossed an intercepti­on in Jets territory that set up the Giants’ go-ahead score.

“He made some throws, but he missed some throws,” coach Todd Bowles said. “It was good to get his feet wet.”

After Hackenberg replaced Bryce Petty early in the fourth quarter, he got off to an inauspicio­us start with two incomplete passes and a delay-of-game penalty. Then, he got rolling. Hackenberg hit Zach Sudfeld for 16 yards on third-and-15, then connected with rookie Charone Peake for 26. After Antone Smith’s 1-yard run, Hackenberg threw a 27yard pass to rookie Robby Anderson.

On the next play, Hackenberg lofted a perfectly placed toss into the right corner of the end zone to Anderson, capping an impressive first drive.

The Jets went three-andout on their next possession, and then Hackenberg made a rookie mistake in his third series.

On third-and-7 from the Jets 5, Hackenberg threw an ill-advised pass over the middle that was deflected by Davon Coleman and intercepte­d by Andrew Adams. Two plays later, the Giants scored the go-ahead touchdown, an 11-yard pass from Ryan Nassib to Tavarres King.

Hackenberg finished 6 of 16 for 105 yards with the TD and INT, and a 55.5 quarterbac­k rating.

Victor Cruz plays for first time since 2014

Victor Cruz really didn’t care about his statistics after the Giants played the Jets in their annual preseason game.

The line for the 29-yearold wide receiver read: 32 plays, targeted on two passes, with one reception for 4 yards.

It was unproducti­ve, yet Cruz could not help but smile after the Giants’ 2120 win on Saturday night.

Cruz had played in a game for the first time since the 2014 season, and that’s all that mattered to the wideout who was one of the NFL’s most feared receivers from 2011-13. The knee injury that ended the ‘14 season and a calf problem that sidelined him last year were things of the past.

Even the crowd at MetLife Stadium was into his return, chanting “Cruzzzz.”

“It was unreal,” Cruz said. “It kind of gave me goosebumps.”

Even though he felt rusty, Cruz was excited.

“It felt good to put that jersey on again and go out there with my teammates, from the warmup, the pregame, and then during the game to be in the position to make a play and be out there running routes against an opponent, it felt good,” Cruz said.

Cruz’s only catch came on a quick pass to the right from Eli Manning on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.

Chiefs’ Eric Berry signs franchise tender

Chiefs safety Eric Berry signed his franchise tender and reported to camp Sunday, though he is almost certain to miss Kansas City’s preseason finale against Green Bay this week.

Berry was given the franchise tag early in the offseason but had not signed the deal, which means he could skip all of training camp without being fined. The deal will pay him just over $10.8 million this season, making him the league’s highest-paid safety.

Kansas City plays its first regular-season game Sept. 11 against San Diego.

 ?? BILL KOSTROUN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? New York Jets quarterbac­k and Penn State alum Christian Hackenberg (5) finished with a touchdown and an intercepti­on during his preseason NFL debut on Saturday.
BILL KOSTROUN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Jets quarterbac­k and Penn State alum Christian Hackenberg (5) finished with a touchdown and an intercepti­on during his preseason NFL debut on Saturday.

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