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Instant Analysis: Daniel Jones nearly flawless; rookies find end zone

DANIEL-JONES

AT A GLANCE

Daniel Jones was nearly flawless in his first preseason appearance of the summer, and a pair of promising rookies found the end zone in a 21-19 victory over the Panthers at MetLife Stadium.

UP NEXT

The Giants will be the "home" team in their preseason finale against the New York Jets on Saturday, Aug. 26 (6 p.m. ET kickoff). It will be the final tune-up and audition before the NFL's Aug. 29 deadline for clubs to reduce their active rosters from 90 to 53 players.

View photos from the home preseason opener between the Giants and Panthers at MetLife Stadium.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

🔹 After resting the majority of their starters in the preseason opener, the Giants played most of them on Friday night with the exception of running back Saquon Barkley. Here was the lineup:

  • QB Daniel Jones
  • LT Andrew Thomas
  • LG Ben Bredeson
  • C John Michael Schmitz Jr.
  • RG Mark Glowinski
  • RT Evan Neal
  • RB Matt Breida
  • WR Isaiah Hodgins
  • WR Parris Campbell
  • WR Darius Slayton
  • TE Darren Waller

🔹 The first drive couldn't have gone much better as the Giants marched into the end zone on 10 plays. Jones accounted for all 75 yards, completing all but one of his nine passing attempts for 69 yards, including a four-yard touchdown to second-year tight end Daniel Bellinger. Jones also had a six-yard run on the drive.

🔹 Brian Daboll saw all he needed to see. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor relieved Jones on the second series.

🔹 He showed it at Tennessee. He showed it in training camp. Now, Jalin Hyatt has shown it in an NFL game, albeit preseason. The rookie third-round draft choice, who delivered the most explosive receiving campaign in Volunteers history last year, flashed his route-running ability and world-class speed on a 33-yard touchdown from Taylor in the second quarter.

🔹 Hyatt wasn't the only rookie to record his first NFL touchdown. Running back Eric Gray, a fifth-rounder who transferred from Hyatt's alma mater to Oklahoma, plowed through a pile of Panthers on a nine-yard touchdown run, giving the Giants a 21-3 lead at halftime.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

🔹 Friday night's starting lineup:

  • DT Dexter Lawrence
  • DT Leonard Williams
  • DT Jordon Riley
  • DE Azeez Ojulari
  • OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
  • LB Bobby Okereke
  • CB Tre Hawkins III
  • CB Adoree' Jackson
  • SS Jason Pinnock
  • FS Xavier McKinney
  • CB Deonte Banks

🔹 It's not every day that a team starts their rookie sixth- and seventh-round draft picks at the same time, but Wink Martindale isn't most coordinators. One of the major storylines around training camp has been the play of cornerback Tre Hawkins III, a sixth-rounder out of Old Dominion who has been locking down a spot on the first team. He has been playing opposite fellow rookie Deonte Banks, a first-round pick, while veteran Adoree' Jackson has moved to the slot.

But there is something else brewing up front. Jordon Riley, a raw seventh-round pick who played at four different colleges, started on the defensive line next to Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence. The rookie made three tackles, including a stuff to force Carolina to turn the ball over on downs. The Giants scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession.

"Players know players, and they know he can help us and they're helping him every day," Martindale said earlier in the week. "They help everybody in the room, but I see them always talking to him on the field. I think that that's just fantastic, because when you think about it, it's like you training another reporter to take your job. I think that's what's great about that room is that they know what we need to win. I'm excited for the kid."

🔹 The Giants faced off against No. 1 draft pick and former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young on Friday night. Kayvon Thibodeaux, last year's fifth overall choice, welcomed him to the NFL with a first-half sack.

🔹 Second-year safety Dane Belton notched two tackles for loss a week after grabbing an interception and returning it 42 yards in Detroit.

🔹 Linebacker Bobby Okereke, a free-agent acquisition this offseason, recorded seven tackles. Okereke had a career-best 149 total tackles last year with the Colts.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

🔹 It's never a fun week to be in special teams meetings after allowing a 95-yard punt return touchdown, but the Giants responded on Friday night. They allowed no returns on three Jamie Gillan punts, one of which was downed inside the 20.

GAME CAPTAINS

🔹 QB Daniel Jones, LT Andrew Thomas, DL Dexter Lawrence, S Xavier McKinney

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

🔹 No injuries were reported by either team.

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