Daniel Jones is ready to put his surgically repaired ACL through a final test if the Giants want. 

After the first of what will be two joint practices against the Lions, Jones was asked if he would like to play in Thursday’s preseason opener as a way to test his knee against a live pass rush.

Head coach Brian Daboll deferred the decision until later in the week. 

“Yeah, I’d like to play,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, that’s coach’s decision and I’ll do whatever Dabes’ thinks.” 

Jones played just one possession in the preseason last year, when there were no injury questions. 

“I think we try to make practice as game-like as possible and get real game-speed reps in practice to make sure you’re ready to go,” Jones said. “Regardless of what Dabes decides this coming game, I’ll be ready to go when given the chance.” 

Jones hasn’t looked tentative, taking every 11-on-11 rep of practice so far. And he didn’t look hesitant Monday, when he was in the fray during a fight. 

“I always think it’s valuable to get game reps,” Jones said. “My knee feels good. I’ve tested it and done everything that I need to do to make sure it’s ready to go.” 

Daboll indicated that his mind is not made up on whether Jones will play in any of the preseason games, including Aug. 17 against the Texans and Aug. 24 against the Jets (when there is a chance Aaron Rodgers plays, coming back from his torn Achilles). 

Near the end of the first team period, RB Eric Gray readied himself to catch a short pass and was leveled in the back by Morice Norris, an undrafted rookie free-agent cornerback.

The force of the hit knocked Gray down and his helmet flew off his head and fell to the grass. 

Surprisingly, this did not lead to one of the many fights during the feisty joint practice, but it did get the attention of the Giants. 

“That definitely crossed the line,” RB Devin Singletary said. “It’s practice. We’re being physical, but you want to be smart. That was one of the plays that set the tone, like, ‘Let’s go, this is that type of day it’s gonna be.’ 

“I felt on that play they took it too far. You got a kill shot on him, OK, cool, but I believe it was a young guy who did it so he’s still learning himself.” 

Lions head coach Dan Campbell was a tight ends coach under Daboll when he was offensive coordinator for the 2011 Dolphins. 

“He is one the smartest football minds I’ve been around,” Campbell said. “Talk about thinking fast. He tested us as a staff. I learned a ton of football around him. And he evolved. What he was doing in Buffalo is not what we were doing [in Miami]. That’s what he’s done here and will do here. You don’t do what you did [going to the playoffs in 2022] without being able to coach.” 

Campbell also called Daboll a “chameleon” for the tendency for his weight to fluctuate. 

Giants luminaries Tom Coughlin, Michael Strahan, Shaun O’Hara and Victor Cruz were on the sidelines for the barometer-type practice. 

The Giants waived/injured RB Jashaun Corbin, who was working to the side of today’s practice with trainers.

His roster spot went to CB Christian Holmes, who has appeared in 30 career games (mostly on special teams) with Washington.