NY Giants can't make the same Adoree' Jackson special teams mistake again

Leading up to Week 1, the NY Giants made a bit of a splash, bringing back Adoree' Jackson for needed help at cornerback. Jackson, who spent the last three seasons in East Rutherford, is ready to push for the CB2 job on the other side of the field from Deonte Banks.

However, that's not the only place where he'll be able to make a difference for this team. While speaking to the media, head coach Brian Daboll said that Jackson could 'potentially' be used as a punt returner as well.

While Jackson's experience there would be beneficial, we can't forget that he injured his knee returning a punt in 2022 and missed the final seven games of the regular season. Why bring him back, only to risk things with him there?

The Giants should avoid using Adoree' Jackson as a punt returner

Jackson was able to get back on the field for the postseason that winter, but it doesn't take away from the fact that he missed a large chunk of the campaign. Usual return man Gunner Olszewski, a former Pro Bowler, suffered a groin strain in the preseason and he's still working to get himself back to 100 percent.

With him hurt, wideout Isaiah McKenzie was the main returner on the field, but he wasn't even close to reliable. To make matters worse for McKenzie, he suffered an injury in the preseason finale against the New York Jets and he was placed on Injured Reserve.

The Giants are going to have to get a bit creative if Olszewski is limited or unable to go vs. the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium, but would Jackson be the right call? We don't think so. The cornerback depth is quite thin and that's the main reason he was brought back on a one-year contract.

Could you imagine if something were to happen to Jackson again while returning a punt? It's something that can't even be considered. Losing him for so much time in '22 was one thing, but anything close to that happening this fall, especially when it can be avoided, would be catastrophic. Daboll needs to keep him on the field for defense and have him on the sidelines for special teams work.