Since everything is bigger in Texas, it makes sense as the setting for the Giants to put Daniel Jones through his final test. 

Jones is expected to start on the road Saturday in a preseason game against the Texans, which would mark his first live action since he tore his ACL on Nov. 5.

There is no bigger factor in how the Giants will fare early in the regular season than whether the starting quarterback stays healthy and recaptures his 2022 form. 

“I do envision Daniel playing if everything — trainers, practices, all those types of things — is [according to plan],” head coach Brian Daboll said. 

If Jones plays, that essentially guarantees the Giants will use all of their healthy offensive linemen and receivers to keep him protected and let him build chemistry.

Rookie receiver Malik Nabers, who suffered what is believed to be a minor ankle sprain in Sunday’s practice, is an isolated case. 

Backup quarterback Drew Lock’s availability against the Texans won’t be determined until later in the week. Lock (oblique strain/hip pointer) exited Thursday’s game against the Lions and is not expected to practice again until at least Thursday. 

The best indication that the Giants do not think Lock’s injury requires a long-term absence is that they “are not adding another quarterback right now,” Daboll said. 

“He feels a little bit better than he did [Thursday] night and the next morning,” Daboll said. 

If Lock can’t play, the Giants are not going to risk Jones’ health by extending his preseason exposure. Third-stringer Tommy DeVito would play the bulk of the game and the contingency plan calls for tight end Tyree Jackson — a former college quarterback at Buffalo who came into the NFL as a passer under Daboll with the Bills — to dust off his old skill set. 

“If he had to go in, he knows our system — albeit he’s been a tight end the last couple years,” Daboll said. “He’ll take some quarterback-center exchange out here. But I don’t envision playing him unless something happens.” 

Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo stressed he is trying to build versatility in Josh Ezeudu. 

Ezeudu, who played guard as a rookie in 2022, struggled mightily at left tackle last season when thrust into the difficult spot of replacing the injured Andrew Thomas with little preparation.

He has remained mostly at tackle throughout the spring and summer and allowed three quarterback pressures on 23 pass-blocking snaps against the Lions. 

“He and I had spoken in the offseason because I wanted to make sure we got a good evaluation of him at tackle,” Bricillo said. “But he definitely plays guard as well.” 

Bricillo expects C John Michael Schmitz, who returned to individual drills Sunday after eight straight missed practices with a shoulder injury, to be available for Week 1. 

The Giants signed undrafted rookie LB K.J. Cloyd and cut DB Kaleb Hayes, who had been with the team since last August, and RB Jacob Saylors.