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Jones Makes Starting QB Debut for Giants
9/23/2019 4:57:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – After being announced as the weekend starter last Tuesday, former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones made his first career start for the New York Giants on Sunday.
And boy did he impress. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft completed his first four passes for 53 yards, including gains of 26 yards to wide receiver Sterling Shepard and 18 yards to tight end Evan Engram.
He finished the game 23-of-36 (.639) for 336 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Jones shined via the ground game as well and showed his legs on the first play of the second quarter, scrambling for 11 yards to convert a 3rd-and-5. Fittingly, his first NFL touchdown came later that drive on a seven-yard run. His first touchdown pass was a 75-yarder to Engram on the first play of the third quarter.
He closed out his night rushing four times for 28 yards and two scores.
Jones became the first Duke QB to start since Thaddeus Lewis did so for the Buffalo Bills on December 29, 2013 in a road loss to the New England Patriots. Lewis finished 16-of-29 (.552) for 247 yards and one TD.
Jones also became the first Giants rookie to start at quarterback since Jan. 2, 2005 – the final game of Eli Manning's first season and the first rookie quarterback to make his starting debut since Manning on Nov 21, 2004.
Some additional notes on Jones' first NFL start are below:
- Became the second player since the 1970 merger to throw at least two touchdown passes and run for two scores in his first NFL start. On Oct. 19, 1981, Detroit's Erick Hipple threw for four scores and ran for two more in a 48-17 victory over Chicago.
- Became the first Giants rookie quarterback to win his initial career start since Dec. 7, 1980, when Scott Brunner completed 8-of-18 passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 27-21 victory at Seattle. Since then, Jeff Hostetler, Dave Brown and Danny Kanell won their first pro starts as Giants, but they weren't rookies.
- Became the first QB since Marcus Mariota in 2015 to account for four touchdowns in their first career start.
- Jones' 75-yard pass and score to Engram was the longest passing touchdown by a quarterback in their NFL debut since 2012.
- Jones became one of six other quarterbacks to throw for 300+ yards/two TD, rush for two TD and complete a fourth-quarter comeback in a single NFL game. Steve Young, Daunte Culpepper, Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers were the other QBs.
And boy did he impress. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft completed his first four passes for 53 yards, including gains of 26 yards to wide receiver Sterling Shepard and 18 yards to tight end Evan Engram.
He finished the game 23-of-36 (.639) for 336 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Jones shined via the ground game as well and showed his legs on the first play of the second quarter, scrambling for 11 yards to convert a 3rd-and-5. Fittingly, his first NFL touchdown came later that drive on a seven-yard run. His first touchdown pass was a 75-yarder to Engram on the first play of the third quarter.
He closed out his night rushing four times for 28 yards and two scores.
Jones became the first Duke QB to start since Thaddeus Lewis did so for the Buffalo Bills on December 29, 2013 in a road loss to the New England Patriots. Lewis finished 16-of-29 (.552) for 247 yards and one TD.
Jones also became the first Giants rookie to start at quarterback since Jan. 2, 2005 – the final game of Eli Manning's first season and the first rookie quarterback to make his starting debut since Manning on Nov 21, 2004.
Some additional notes on Jones' first NFL start are below:
- Became the second player since the 1970 merger to throw at least two touchdown passes and run for two scores in his first NFL start. On Oct. 19, 1981, Detroit's Erick Hipple threw for four scores and ran for two more in a 48-17 victory over Chicago.
- Became the first Giants rookie quarterback to win his initial career start since Dec. 7, 1980, when Scott Brunner completed 8-of-18 passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 27-21 victory at Seattle. Since then, Jeff Hostetler, Dave Brown and Danny Kanell won their first pro starts as Giants, but they weren't rookies.
- Became the first QB since Marcus Mariota in 2015 to account for four touchdowns in their first career start.
- Jones' 75-yard pass and score to Engram was the longest passing touchdown by a quarterback in their NFL debut since 2012.
- Jones became one of six other quarterbacks to throw for 300+ yards/two TD, rush for two TD and complete a fourth-quarter comeback in a single NFL game. Steve Young, Daunte Culpepper, Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers were the other QBs.
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