New York Giants’ Adoree’ Jackson knows he didn’t play his best in 2023

The New York Giants signed back cornerback Adoree’ Jackson this past weekend, a move that had many perplexed. Jackson was not re-signed in the first several waves of free agency this year. In fact, few teams showed interest in him.

“My agent did most of the talking. But, no, I did not do any visits. The only one I came to was out here,” Jackson told reporters on Monday.

The Giants wanted a clean break from Jackson after last year. By admission, Jackson knows his performance was not up to snuff.

“I had some interest around the league,” Jackson said. “I don’t think I played to my best. I’m always critiquing myself. But I had interest around the league, but I didn’t play to my best.”

The Giants decided to fill Jackson’s role with younger, less expensive players such as Cor’Dale Flott, Nick McCloud, and Tre Hawkins III. The selection of Dru Phillips in the third round sealed up the slot, leaving the outside up for grabs.

The derby was a slow-moving one due to nagging injuries to both Flott and McCloud. Hawkins, last year’s preseason star, has leveled off but is still in the mix. The end result is the Giants weren’t satisfied with how the competition went this summer.

Head coach Brian Daboll said the decision to re-sign Jackson was one to improve the team ‘any way we can’ and that the “best players will play.”

The 28-year-old Jackson was not in any NFL camp this spring or summer but believes he’s ready to hit the field. Daboll said they would see where he is at physically and ramp him up accordingly.

“I can play — 60 snaps, I don’t know 60, I might be gassed, you know,” Jackson said. “So, I wouldn’t put a number of snaps how I can play right now. We’re going to see this week being getting ramped up and working on my condition and seeing what I need.

“Obviously, doing stuff on the side for myself. I know my body as well. And obviously having the performance coaches and the trainers here to be able to guide me and assess me in what I may need and just go from there.”

If Jackson does dress this weekend, he won’t be wearing his old uniform number (22). That belongs to the rookie Dru Phillips.

“No, I didn’t get my old number back,” Jackson said. “It’s funny, Dru had asked me did I want it back, and I’m like, ‘no, you can keep it.’ I’ve seen him making some plays in it, so I’m like, ‘You got it, you look good in it, so you got it.’”

Daboll suggested that Jackson could be in line for some reps at punt returner with Gunner Olszewski is still dealign with a groin issue.

“I’m always in the mindset that I’m a returner. I’ve always been one at heart, regardless of what may happen,” he said. “As you all have seen, I go back there and it’s just second nature, just like you get up, walk out of bed, go wash your face, brush your teeth. I get up, go back there, punt return, catch it and figure out what’s going to happen next.”

Welcome back to the world of Adoree’.