AT GLANCE

With starters getting their first extensive action of the preseason, the New York Giants fell to the Texans, 28-10, in Houston.

UP NEXT

The Giants begin the transition from training camp mode to preparation for the regular season. They will hold a joint practice with the Jets ahead of their preseason finale on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET). Then it's just two weeks until the Giants embark on their 100^th season against the Minnesota Vikings. In between, clubs must reduce their rosters to 53 players on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Starting lineup:

• QB Daniel Jones
• RB Devin Singletary
• WR Malik Nabers
• WR Wan'Dale Robinson
• WR Jalin Hyatt
• TE Theo Johnson
• LT Andrew Thomas
• LG Aaron Stinnie
• C John Michael Schmitz
• RG Greg Van Roten
• RT Jermaine Eluemunor

After the Giants played mostly backups in the opener, Jones saw his first game action since tearing his right ACL last Nov. 5 against the Raiders.

"I don't think I'll be thinking about my knee much," Jones said earlier in the week. "I think I've tested it. I've tested it in practice, tested it in my rehab and workouts and feel like it's in a good place. So, I'm confident my knee will be ready to go. It won't be something I'm thinking about much."

However, he will be thinking about a few throws that he'd like to have back. Jones threw two interceptions in the first quarter, the first of which safety Jalen Pitre returned six yards for a touchdown. Jones got back on track with a 44-yard completion to Darius Slayton down the left sideline in the second quarter, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Singletary to even the score at 7-7.

Jones, who played the entire first half, finished his day 11 of 18 for 138 yards and the two interceptions.

Despite twisting his ankle earlier this week, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers suited up and caught his first four passes in a Giants uniform for 54 yards, including one circus catch for a gain of 21 yards to set up a short field goal late in the first half.

Drew Lock, who started the opener, has been dealing with an oblique injury that he suffered in the game. In his place, Tommy DeVito played the entire second half on Saturday and completed 10 of 19 passes for 75 yards.

Wide receiver John Jiles accounted for the Giants' third turnover, having the ball stripped away from him to erase a 20-yard catch in the fourth quarter. DeVito and newly-signed running back Lorenzo Lingard also lost fumbles, giving the Giants five turnovers on the day.

Jon Runyan (shoulder) did not participate in team drills during Thursday's practice. Stinnie started in his place at left guard.

On Friday, the Giants signed veteran tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson, who has played in 67 games in his NFL career and made 34 starts. In a corresponding move, the team waived/injured tight end Tyree Jackson.

Johnson, 6-3 and 255 pounds, spent the past two seasons with the Raiders, overlapping with current Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo and offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten. Prior to Las Vegas, Johnson played in 37 games with 20 starts over three seasons (2019-2021) with New England, where he also played under Bricillo. A native of Stuttgart, Germany, Johnson is the first International Pathway program participant to score a touchdown in the regular season.

The Giants also signed a pair of running backs, Joshua Kelley and Lorenzo Lingard, earlier in the week.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Starting lineup:

• OLB Brian Burns
• DL Dexter Lawrence
• DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
• OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
• LB Bobby Okereke
• LB Micah McFadden
• NICKEL Isaiah Simmons
• CB Nick McCloud
• CB Deonte Banks
• S Dane Belton
• S Jason Pinnock

The defense made a goal-line stand to open the game, stymieing the Texans five times inside the 10-yard line. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence sealed the deal with a batted pass on C. J. Stroud, the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Hustle Play of the Day: It went down as only an 11-yard run because Houston's J.J. Taylor was later ruled out of bounds, but Elijah "Baby Bison" Chatman didn't know that at the time. The 6-foot, 278-pound defensive lineman chased down the 5-foot-6, 185-pound running back for 50 yards – and caught him.

The Giants made several roster moves on defense this week, including the additions of safeties Raheem Layne and Jonathan Sutherland. Before the signings, the Giants had just four healthy safeties: starters Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton, and rookies Tyler Nubin and Alex Johnson.

The contract of safety Jalen Mills was also terminated after he failed his physical. Another safety, Elijah Riley (concussion), was placed on injured reserve. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Graham Gano, who missed the final nine games last season after undergoing surgery on his left knee, made his first field goal attempt of the preseason from 31 yards.

With Gunner Olszewski sidelined, Isaiah McKenzie assumed the bulk of the return duties. Under the new rules, he returned three kickoffs for 83 yards (27.7), with a long of 33 yards. McKenzie also returned one punt for 12 yards.

GAMEDAY CAPTAIN

QB Daniel Jones

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

LB Micah McFadden (hip), DL Ryder Anderson (hamstring), LB Matthew Adams (groin)