Minus Saquon, rookie Jones sparks Big Blue
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Saquon Barkley had to be content with dancing on the New York Giants sideline Thursday, because there was no way he would play a preseason opener against the Jets.
But what made Barkley dance further? The debut of rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.
The Giants’ sixth-overall pick energized Barkley, his sideline and a lethargic crowd at MetLife Stadium with a first drive that provoked unhealthy overreactions. By the time he threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cody Latimer, the fifth consecutive completion to start his career, Jones was being fitted for a Hall of Fame jacket on social media.
The only thing stopping him was a rogue thunderstorm that cleared the stadium, delayed the game for an hour and changed Giants coach Pat Shurmur’s plans. Jones was on the field for a second possession when the game was suspended, and Alex Tanney took over the huddle when play resumed.
Nevertheless, in his single series, Jones gave Giants fans another player about whom to get excited.
Barkley, the 2018 NFL offensive rookie of the year, has become the flashpoint for Giants expectations this season, which largely hinge, as always, on quarterback Eli Manning. Then the 38-year-old Manning generated no good will upon starting the game with a 3-andout possession that looked tired.
On the Giants’ first offensive play, Manning rolled right and had tight end Evan Engram open downfield but clutched the ball too long. Instead, he rotated down to tight end Garrett Dickerson for a 3-yard completion that resembled the Giants’ worn passing game of 2018.
Barkley stalked the sideline, trying to inject some life into the proceedings, until Jones debuted on the second series. Then the running back went from cheerleader to spectator, joining the MetLife chorus that went wild for Jones.
But it was a good one. Jones made a variety of quality throws, from a well-placed slant to Golden Tate to a 31-yard completion to Latimer that precisely found the receiver’s hands. Jones’ touchdown pass landed softly for Bennie Fowler at the end-zone’s back corner, completing a series in which Jones went 5-for 5 for 67 yards and won a lot of preseason goodwill.
Jones has been a trainingcamp riser, drawing praise from teammates for the incremental gains he has made. During camp, Barkley said that Jones seemed to grow more comfortable while building a rapport with Manning.
Though even Barkley tried to steer clear of drawing inferences from the Jones-Manning dynamic.
“DJ, he’s a player,” Barkley said. “… He and Eli are vibing really well. Eli’s being a great, I don’t want to say mentor — I know that’s what people try to make it seem, but just a team
mate. Being a great teammate.”
Jones’ camp ascendance can be compared to Barkley’s last season, when the running back brought an electrical charge to the offense. Giants general manager Dave Gettleman didn’t want to place overwhelming expectations on Barkley then and certainly doesn’t want to overreact to Jones now.
“It takes time for any young kid to really be able to evaluate [him],” Gettleman said during camp. “you don’t draft based on one game, … you draft him because of his body of work. It’s the same thing here. I don’t believe in taking temperatures every day. Hopefully we’re all 98.6.
“We’ll evaluate it, probably once a week we’ll have personnel meetings. But I don’t believe in every day, Roman Colosseum thumb up or thumb down, thumb sideways.”