Adoree Jackson walked through a door Monday she never expected to find closed.
Jackson returned to the Giants' practice field for the first time since last season ended.
He re-signed a one-year contract on Friday after spending more than five months as a free agent, representing a marriage of convenience between a player who needed another chance in the NFL and a team that needed cornerback reinforcements.
“There's no animosity, no feelings, no ill will on my part,” Jackson said. “When I got back and saw everybody, it was like a family reunion. It was like, 'Damn, I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been?' When they reached out to me, it wasn't like I didn't want to be in touch or I didn't want to pick up the phone. I understand things don't work out. [are] I am a business and I don't want to mix business with personal things.”
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The 28-year-old Jackson wasn't promised to reclaim the starting role he'd held the past three seasons, but the implication was clear: If the Giants had believed that either Cordère Flott or Nick McCloud had won the No. 2 perimeter cornerback spot in training camp, a reunion with Jackson wouldn't have felt so necessary.
Talks between the Giants and Jackson's representatives have intensified over the past two weeks, the veteran said, and while Jackson hasn't met with other free agents, he's “got some interest around the league.”
“I wouldn't say I asked for security, but I certainly asked for what was needed,” Jackson said. “Having that aspect of being needed allows me to do what I can to help the team, whatever role I'm given.”
Asking Jackson to handle a full workload before Sunday's season opener against the Vikings seems like a tall order.
Jackson relies on his knowledge of position drills to stay in shape, along with weightlifting and speed training with his former high school track coach, but he's still a while away from putting on pads and a helmet.
Jackson impressed head coach Brian Daboll during practice on Friday, meaning he will be a familiar new challenger for Flott and McCloud.
“This is the NFL, so we're going to try to make it as competitive as possible,” Daboll said, “and we're going to play against the guys that we think will give us the best chance.”
The terms of Jackson's contract are expected to include incentives based on playing time.
“60 Snaps [on Sunday]”I don't know, maybe I'm tired,” Jackson said. “I can't tell you how many snaps I'm going to play right now. I'm just going to get better this week, get my conditioning up and see what it takes.”
Jackson had two strong seasons with the Giants, including a win over the Vikings' Justin Jefferson in the 2022 post-regular season playoffs, but he allowed 54 catches for 753 yards and two touchdowns last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I didn't play my best,” Jackson said. “If I could explain why, I would.”
Some in Giants headquarters were unhappy with his tackling.
It was a shift from the altruistic interpretation of his willingness last summer to move rookie Tre Hawkins from the outside to the slot to start, but that experiment was abandoned after two games.
“No matter what position you play, you've got to beat guys with the ball in your hands, and that's something we stress to all of our players,” Daboll said. “I'm sure he'll do everything he can to be as prepared as he can be.”
That process should be aided in part by Jackson's close relationship with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who played for coordinator Dean Pees with the Titans while Bowen was developing his own playbook as linebackers coach.
The Titans fired Jackson in 2021 and Bowen took over as defensive coordinator.
“My understanding of the words may have changed, [it’s] “It's easy for me to wrap my head around how to differentiate what the defense is doing and what the calls are doing, so I think that helps,” Jackson said. “I know the football conditions are going to be a lot different than what I've done before, but I've always been mentally prepared to be ready come Week 1.”
Daboll left open the possibility of Jackson returning punts, and sixth-year receiver Darius Slayton is the other option after Gunner Olszewski (groin) struggled in practice last week.
But Slayton was happy to have Jackson back in the building.
“Adoree has definitely been my favorite teammate that I've played with since I've been here,” Slayton said. “She's got that veteran flair, and she's only 28, so she's not slowing down and she can still play at a high level.”
