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Almost everything is on the line for New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones this season, which will be his third as the team’s starter. Management has provided him with the tools to succeed this year, but a lot of those tools haven’t quite made it out of the shed yet.
On Wednesday, one of the new faces finally got onto the field. Free agent tight end Kyle Rudolph, a 10-year veteran with a Pro Bowl resume, returned to practice after rehabbing from a procedure on his ankle this spring.
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Jones was glad to see the the 6-foot-6 former Notre Dame star, who will provide mush needed help in the short passing game and in the red zone.
“Good to see him out there,” said Jones. “He’s worked so hard to get back and he’s been behind the scenes a lot helping all of us, helping me, helping the tight ends, and it’s been good to have him out there.”
Jones was then asked what specifically he was looking forward to that Rudolph can provide to this offense.
“He’s played a lot of football at a really high level. He knows the game inside and out. He knows how to make plays. He knows how to get up and catch the ball. I think he’ll make a difference for us and I’m excited to get him out there,” Jones said.
In 2020, the Giants were 31st in the NFL in red zone offense, scoring touchdowns on just 46.3 percent of the time.
Rudolph is only one of the players general manager Dave Gettleman supplied Jones with this offseason. He added the top free agent wideout on the market (Kenny Golladay) and selected Florida speedster Kadarius Toney in the first round of the draft. Both have been sidelined for the majority of training camp with injuries.
“I know those guys are working hard to get back and are working with the trainers every day to get better,” said Jones. “We’re focused on improving as a group and getting ready for Week 1.”
Also on the way back is running back Saquon Barkley, who missed 14 games last year due to a torn ACL. Barkley has been Brough along slowly this summer but is said to be close to returning.
Jones did not play in the Giants’ first two preseason games but will start this Sunday against the New England Patriots. He won’t have his full compliment of weapons but he’s looking forward to knocking off the rust.
“Just to get out there, be comfortable, move the ball and score points,” said Jones of who he hopes to accomplish Sunday. “Like any game or practice, just execute football plays, move the ball down the field and score. So, be efficient and execute as an offense.”
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