Caption: Three-year backup quarterback Ryan Nassib struggled in a rare start Friday night. Photo by Al Thompson

EAST RUTHERFORD: The New York Football Giants wanted to find out a couple of things during their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium Friday night.

They did.

One was seeing how second round pick Sterling Sheppard, a swift-footed wide receiver out of Oklahoma was like when the lights went on.

The 5-foot-10, 194-pounder answered some of the questions on Big Blue’s first drive, Sheppard made a diving 24-yard shoe-string catch from starter Ryan Nassib at the Dolphins eight-yard line setting up Rashad Jenning’s three-yard touchdown.

Another goal was to see first round pick Eli Apple in action against first string NFL competition.

Like Sheppard, Apple was solid, recording two tackles and a fumble recovery.
The only problem was when the team announced they were both being evaluated at the half for injuries.

Apple was being looked at for a knee injury and Sheppard for a sore groin. Both were fine.
One other matter was backup quarterback and former Malvern Prep standout Ryan Nassib…is he worth signing to an extension?

Since Eli Manning is one of the most durable quarterbacks in NFL history, Nassib has seen little playing time over the last three years.

The 6-2, 224-pounder is in the last year of his four-year rookie deal signed after the Giants took the Syracuse star in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.

When new head coach Ben McAdoo decided to sit Eli Manning, Nassib got the start and played the better part of the first three quarters.

He struggled to say the least going 7 of 15 for 75 yards with two interceptions, three fumbles. He was sacked four times. His QB rating was 22.2. Ouch.

“Obviously the turnovers were unacceptable,” Nassib said after the game, a 27-10 loss. “We put ourselves in some tough positions and we have to do a better job of bouncing back and making some plays, moving the ball and putting some more points on the board.”

McAdoo was asked with Nassib’s performance Friday night, how much of that was him and how much of that was a lack of solid protection?

“He didn’t always have clean protection, “McAdoo said. “But Ryan still had an opportunity to make some plays. He needs to throw the balls out there a couple of times and I think he would have had an opportunity to make some big plays. I would have liked to see him hit the post to Sterling (Shepard). Ryan’s going to move on, he’s going to learn from this experience and he’s going to bounce back.”

Nassib was asked if the head coach talked to him about ball security.
“Yes. That goes without saying,” Nassib said. ” Protecting the football is the number one priority in this game and that’s one of the biggest stats in if you’re going to win or lose games.

Eight incomplete passes on 15 attempts. Some clearly bad throws.
“Yes, I underthrew those balls on single and man coverage,” Nassib said. “I have to put a little more air under those and let those guys run underneath it.”
Nassib was asked what he would take out of this game from a positive standpoint going forward.

“We have a lot to improve on, we know that,” the 26-year-old from West Chester said. “It was nice to be able to get out there. We have a lot of experience and we’re going to have a lot to build on it.”

Notes: The Giants are looking at their backup center in Canadian Football League standout Brett Jones. The 6-foot-2, 318-pounder out of Regina was signed as a free agent for the 2015 season but suffered a foot injury on September 5, 2015 and was put on injured reserve.

Jones played in every quarter working at guard and center with all three units.
So it seems McAdoo, who was offensive coordinator last year and knows Jones well, is serious about the Canadian making the team.

“I just look at it as an opportunity,” Jones said at his locker after the game. “I just want to make sure I’m competing against myself, and I want to do the best I can do whenever I’m in there. So I’m going to go back, watch the film, see where I can improve. I know I’ve got a lot to work on and just take it from there.”
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In addition to Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz did not play.