During the New York Giants’ embarrassing loss at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, one of the more surprising decisions by the Giants was to use Adoree’ Jackson as a punt returner.
Jackson replaced running back Eric Gray on the Seahawks’ second punt after the rookie muffed the opening punt.
Buy Giants TicketsThe decision gave Giants fans flashbacks of last season when Jackson was used as a punt returner in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. Jackson, of course, sustained an MCL injury that would sideline him for the final seven weeks of the regular season.
Now, headed into Week 5, head coach Brian Daboll said the Giants are going back to Gray as their returner going forward.
“I’d say that we’ll go back to him,” Daboll told reporters. “Again, that game I just felt that was the right thing to do, based on that punter, is to let Adoree’ field them after that first one and we’ll go ahead and he’ll be back.
Gray has been the primary returner through four games and given that he has been used minimally on the offense during the absence of Saquon Barkley, the move makes sense.
Even though Gray has appeared uncomfortable fielding punts, Daboll still has faith in him.
“He’s caught the ball well. He had the one (catch) interference against San Francisco, the interference with the kick. Done a good job out here at practice. Again, some of that was their punter. He’s got some unique punts, too. Saw the first one and thought that was the right thing to do for the team,” he said.
Following Jackson’s injury last season, Daboll stood by his decision to use him as a returner and even hinted this offseason that the Giants may use Jackson again as a return this year.
Jackson is vital to a secondary that has plenty of youth, especially at the cornerback position, and they will need him healthy if they are going to turn the season around.
