EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Daniel Jones left no doubt he wants to play. But doubt exists whether he will play when the Giants host the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
"I obviously want to be out there extremely, extremely badly," Jones said Wednesday. "I want to be there for the team and be on the field. I certainly feel that way. But doing everything I can to get back out there and everything I can to help."
Because of a neck injury he suffered the previous week in Miami, Jones was inactive three nights ago when the Giants lost to the Bills in Buffalo. Tyrod Taylor completed 24 of 36 passes for 200 yards as the Giants' replacement quarterback.
After not practicing last week, Jones worked on a limited basis today. He did not participate in team drills, but he is throwing passes again.
"It felt good throwing," Jones said. "I've been throwing for a few days now. So yeah, it felt good. … I just continue to feel better every day."
Coach Brian Daboll did not rule Jones in or out of the game.
"He's doing better," Daboll said. "He'll be out here today at practice doing some stuff. We'll see where we're at.
"I think he gets evaluated pretty much every day, so when they tell me he's cleared, that's when he'll be cleared. I'll just say when the doctors and the trainers tell me that he's ready to go, that's when he'll be ready to go."
Daboll is confident Jones will return at some point, responding to a question about the quarterback's season by saying, "it's not over."
NBC reported on its broadcast Sunday that Jones said he has discomfort in the left side of his neck and a sensation or feeling down into his left shoulder. He also said he hoped to play against the Commanders. Jones said today he feels better.
"I really don't feel much pain at all," Jones said. "It's feeling better, it's just working through it and listening to the doctors and trainers."
Jones was asked if he had to be symptom-free before the team's medical staff allows him to take "the next step."
"Yeah, that's part of it," he said. "Just continuing to try to get there.
"I'm close. I'm pretty close. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and trust the doctors and trainers and what they're telling me to do and keep going about it."
Jones' absence from practice meant Taylor took the offensive reps today. His uncertain status means Taylor doesn't know if he will start again.
"That's up to the coaches and the training staff," Taylor said. "That's not necessarily my focus, not to say it in a bad way, it's not my concern either. I have to prepare myself mentally and physically each and every week as if my number could get called."
Though Taylor made some outstanding throws, the Giants did not score a touchdown in their 14-9 defeat. Because of that, Taylor was not satisfied.
"It wasn't a winning performance, so ultimately no," Taylor said. "I think I did some things well, but there is always room to grow. As a quarterback, you get judged on a lot, but at the end of the day, wins and losses is what matter, and ultimately it wasn't a winning performance. So, we have to clean up some of the things that we didn't do so well as a unit and be better this week."
That's true whether Jones or Taylor play. And four days before the game, no one is certain who will.
"I want to play," Jones said. "I certainly want to play. But at the same time, we've got great doctors, great trainers and I trust them. Lucky to have them. But yeah, everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to be on the field.
"I think at this point, we're just taking it kind of day by day and seeing how I feel that day and going through the tests. Sunday's a little way away at this point, but just trying to get better every day."
*Four Giants players did not practice Wednesday because of injuries, and in keeping with the theme of the season, they were all offensive linemen. Two other linemen were limited.
The sidelined quartet was starting tackles Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and Evan Neal (ankle), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and tackle Matt Peart (shoulder).
Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson also did not participate, but he has not practiced on Wednesdays to lessen the stress on his surgically repaired knee.
The limited linemen were guards Mark Glowinski (quad/ankle) and Shane Lemieux (biceps/groin).
In addition to Jones, the other limited players were running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), kicker Graham Gano (left ankle), and defensive backs Adoree' Jackson (neck) and Cor'Dale Flott (ankle/shoulder).
Running back Gary Brightwell (ankle), defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (knee) and cornerback Tre Hawkins (knee) were full practice participants.
*The Giants signed offensive lineman Justin Pugh off their practice squad and waived tight end Lawrence Cager. Pugh played the entire game, primarily at left tackle, in Buffalo. Cager had appeared in five games (30 snaps on offense, 66 on special teams) and caught two passes for 17 yards.
View photos from the all-time series between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders.
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