Charlie Jones caught two passes for 66 yards Sunday, including a 49-yard gain that helped drag the Giants back into a game they were losing badly. His offensive contribution deserves credit. I wouldn't let it settle who handles the next kickoff.
Earlier in the 34-27 loss to New Orleans, Jones lost a kickoff return that handed the Saints possession at New York's 28. A useful receiver can still make a disastrous special-teams mistake, and the Giants need to evaluate those jobs separately.
Jones has averaged 24.2 yards on 11 kickoff returns this season. Tyrone Tracy Jr. has averaged 29.6 on seven, while Deonte Banks has two returns at an 18.5-yard average. Those are small samples with different opportunities, not a ranking that automatically picks the next returner.
Oct 18, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Charlie Jones (89) catches a pass against New Orleans Saints cornerback Quincy Riley (29) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
They do establish that the Giants aren't stuck with one player who has ever done the job. I would give the available alternatives a genuine competition in preparation for Houston rather than treat Jones' return assignment as inseparable from his place in the passing offense.
There is a complication with Tracy in particular: he's had his own ball-security mistakes. His receiving and rushing responsibilities also have to be considered before adding another assignment. Making a change just to say someone was punished isn't much of a plan.
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Jones' two receptions were his first catches of the season. The 49-yarder was an encouraging contribution from a player who hadn't been supplying offensive production, but two completions don't tell us that he needs a major receiving role either.
The reasonable outcome might be Jones remaining a reserve receiver while someone else gets the first opportunity on kickoffs. It might also be Jones keeping both jobs after a serious ball-security review. What shouldn't happen is the late highlight being used to skip that review.
The Giants' broader defensive failures still count. New Orleans didn't score 34 unanswered points because of one return alone. Giving an opponent a short field, though, is exactly the sort of avoidable mistake that makes every other weakness harder to survive.
A clean week of return work would be a start for Jones. He should have to win that assignment on its own merits, even if the Giants keep finding a few useful routes for him on offense.
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