Notebook: Daniel Jones makes 'a lot of progress'

Oct 06, 2022 at 12:52 PM

Michael Eisen

Giants.com Senior Writer/Editor

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Daniel Jones was circumspect about his prospects of playing Sunday, but he was distinctly positive about his health after Wednesday's practice.

Jones sprained his left ankle in the Giants' victory against Chicago. He officially worked on a limited basis Wednesday afternoon but showed no evidence of the injury as he ran and threw the ball in the team's workout.

"Felt good out there," Jones said. "I've been working with the (athletic) trainers, and I've made a lot of progress the last couple of days. So, I'll continue to listen to them and continue to do what I can to be back out there."

The Giants will face the Green Bay Packers Sunday in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. How confident is Jones that he will play?

"It's early in the week, so I'm just trying to do everything that I can day-by-day to get back there," he said. "But like I said, I'm feeling good. And I'm feeling a lot better today."

Coach Brian Daboll spoke to the media prior to practice and declined to speculate about Jones' game status.

"We'll see where he's at after today," Daboll said.

But Daboll was encouraged that Jones was able to work after the quarterback was forced from – and then returned to - the Chicago game.

"Not surprised," Daboll said. "He's a pretty tough individual. I think he's made a lot or progress since after the game, and he's been in the treatment room pretty consistently throughout these last couple of days. So, we'll put him out there, give him some reps and see where he's at."

"I think (toughness is) really important – in this position or any position," Jones said. "We've got a lot of tough guys on the team. Tough group. I think a lot of guys throughout the year get banged up and dealing with little things here and there and everyone's trying to be out there. So, I'm no different."

Jones' rapid recovery and potential availability does not solve all the Giants' quarterback issues. Backup Tyrod Taylor suffered a concussion vs. the Bears, which is why Jones went back in. Taylor did not practice. If he can't play, Davis Webb will be the No. 2 quarterback. Should both Jones and Taylor be sidelined, Webb would start.

Webb has been in the NFL since 2017 but has never thrown a regular season pass.

"First off, (I want to) be a good teammate and hopefully Daniel and Tyrod are feeling much better each day," Webb said. "Then if it does happen, just keep preparing like you have been for last five and a half years.

"It's still day to day so we'll kind of see how that progresses. Always try to get ahead (preparing for the opponent) as much as I can. This has come up before in my career where you kind of don't go as head to head. Last year (in Buffalo), I think we had a Covid issue with (quarterbacks) Mitchell (Trubisky) and Jake (Fromm), so it was a similar situation. We'll play it by ear, and we'll see what happens."

Webb knows the Giants' scheme as well as any player, having spent the previous three seasons on the practice squad in Buffalo, where Daboll was the offensive coordinator.

"He's been in the offense for a long time," Daboll said. "So, each week, even though he's on the practice squad, he prepares. That's what we ask all our guys to do, whether it's a practice squad running back, prepare like you're going to have an opportunity to play, so when the opportunity does present itself and you're brought up that you're ready to go. So that's whether we sign a guy this week and start getting him ready to play or a guy like Davis, but certainly he's been with me for a while. So, you're not teaching it. He knows our stuff."

But the Giants want Jones executing it on Sunday. The quarterback's running ability is a significant component to his skillset. His 193 rushing yards place him second on the team behind NFL leader Saquon Barkley (463). If Jones' ankle prevents him from moving as fluidly as he normally does, would that be a cause for concern?

"I think for one, Sunday is a little bit away," Jones said. "I think I'll continue to progress throughout the week and see how I feel. I'm confident in my ability to throw from the pocket, throw outside the pocket, and make plays from both."

One positive factor for Jones and the Giants is that he probably will not have to drop back and throw the ball all afternoon. The Giants lead the NFL in rushing yards at 192.5 a game and are second with a per-carry average of 5.7 yards. Jones is not likely to aggravate his injury handing the ball off.

"I think it's a huge credit to the guys up front," Jones said of the ground attack. "It starts with them, and they've been doing a good job controlling the line of scrimmage and opening up holes for Saquon, for (Matt) Breida, for myself, for anybody to run the ball. We'll continue to lean on that. Those guys have played well."

Jones expects to join them on the field in London.

"I think you prepare each week to play," he said. "Obviously, you've got to make a decision at the end of the week depending on how you feel. I feel good, and I'm going to do everything I can to be out there."