Cornerback Adoree Jackson isn’t coming back to the New York Giants expecting to start on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener.
The Giants signed the 28-year-old veteran over the weekend to strengthen their young, inexperienced secondary.
Jackson played for New York the past three seasons, but he couldn’t reach a new contract agreement when he became a free agent. So, he spent the summer working out with a former track coach in California and waiting for any team to contact him.
The Giants hoped that either Cor’Dale Flott, rookie Dru Phillips, Nick McCloud, second-year player Tre Hawkins, or one of several free agents they brought in would step up and be ready to start alongside Deonte Banks at cornerback.
Flott had the best chance, but he hurt his quadriceps and missed two weeks.
That’s when the Giants started reaching out to Jackson’s representatives a couple of weeks ago. A deal was made on Saturday.
“When I first got here, I always said I wanted to prove myself and earn my stripes,” Jackson said Monday after a short practice. “That was the first thing I told you about coming to New York, regardless if you know who I am or not.
I think it’s always about proving yourself, regardless of what it may be. Each day, each week, going out there, trying to improve and get better.”
Jackson admitted that he struggled last season as the Giants went 6-11. His tackling was off, and he finished the season playing hurt. He couldn’t explain why he didn’t perform well.
For now, he is just happy to be back. Neither he nor coach Brian Daboll knows how much he will be able to play on Sunday after missing all of training camp.
Jackson said he would do whatever the team needed, whether it’s playing as a cornerback, a punt returner, or a gunner on coverage teams.
“I wouldn’t put a number of snaps I could play right now,” he said. “So we’re going to see this week, you know, being getting ramped up and working on my condition and seeing what I need.”
As far as the defense goes, Jackson doesn’t think new coordinator Shane Bowen’s system will be hard to learn. When he was with Tennessee, Bowen was the Titans linebackers coach.
The former Southern California player said the language might be different, but he has always been good at understanding the ideas.
“I like to compete. It’s just what I do,” Jackson said. “Whether it’s when I was in 7-on-7 in high school and (Former Panthers wide receiver) Keyshawn Johnson had a team. He just told me to throw on some cleats, just went out there and played.”
Expect that on Sunday.
What’s interesting about Jackson’s return is that he didn’t get his old number (22) or his locker back.
He did not say what his new number is and noted his new locker stall is in the same area of the room near Dexter Lawrence, Bobby Okereke, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who are three of the top stars on the defense.
Jackson said he watched a couple of the preseason games and told Phillips he looked good in his “old” No. 22 and told him to keep it.
Daboll said the Giants had been in contact with Jackson and he had no regrets about waiting this long to sign him. He insisted the cornerback job will go to whoever practices the best this weekend, whether it’s Flott, McCloud, or Jackson.
“By the end of the week, we’ll determine what we’re going to do relative to roster, play time, all those types of things,” Daboll said.
“Those guys are competitors. It’s the NFL, so you try to make it as competitive as you can make it, and we’ll play the guys we think give us the best chance.”
