Judge ‘encouraged’ but Jones’ injuries may just be 2 much
Giants coach Joe Judge said Thursday that he was “encouraged” by how Daniel Jones moved and threw the ball during Wednesday’s limited practice participation.
But Judge also couched his optimism with some reality.
“Obviously with two injuries, it’s a little bit different of a situation than it was just last week,” Judge said, with Jones adding a left ankle sprain to the right hamstring strain he played on last Sunday. “But he’s making progress, he’s working hard. We just have to make sure we do a good job of watching him (Friday) during practice and make the best decision.”
Judge couldn’t observe Jones moving on the field Thursday, though, because the Giants cancelled practice in the wake of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s positive COVID-19 test.
These late-week practices are important because the speed ramps up, and that’s when the coaches and trainers truly can evaluate Jones’ mobility and legs.
Jones and some other injured players still were allowed to go inside the Giants’ facility for treatment. They were the only players allowed in.
Judge said he doesn’t believe missing Thursday’s practice ultimately will impact his decision on Jones. But Friday will be critical for Jones to state his case for a second straight week.
If he can’t go, backup Colt McCoy would make his second start in three weeks. The Giants won McCoy’s only start so far, 17-12, on the road over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13.
“In terms of Daniel, the evaluation obviously has been put off a day as far as him moving around,” Judge said. “I was encouraged with how he moved around (Wednesday) in practice, how he threw the ball, how he was in the pocket. That was very encouraging. That being said, we have to see him really at a faster tempo. (Friday) will really be the day to evaluate that out there.”
Judge said he’ll want to have a “final decision” by Saturday for a second straight week so they can “go through that final walkthrough with those guys on the grass.” Jones was limited last Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to a full Friday participant and tabbed as the starter on Saturday.
He was limited this Wednesday before Thursday’s practice was cancelled.
Thursday’s plan, with the snowstorm hitting Wednesday night, was to practice at MetLife Stadium at 1:10 p.m, rather than on the practice fields. But Garrett’s positive test and the ensuing contact tracing and protocols wiped out that schedule.
So instead, Judge said he would hold a Zoom meeting with his team from 3-5:30 p.m. to get a head start on install for Friday’s practice.
The Giants then will treat Friday as a “hybrid day” to accomplish both Thursday’s and Friday’s tasks. And Judge Sunday’s game being flexed to the night game actually will help his team get in a second walkthrough.
They’ll do a Saturday hour-long walkthrough on the field, a Saturday night hotel tape review with meetings, and then can hold a “hotel walkthrough” on Sunday morning. “This game being flexed gave us some extra time to build in,” Judge said.
WEBB OF OPTIONS
Veteran Swiss Army knife Joe Webb, 34, was throwing with the quarterbacks Jones and McCoy on Wednesday during the individual period of practice. And Judge said Webb is “meeting right now in three different meeting rooms: two on offense and (one) on special teams.” Judge indicated Thursday that if Jones doesn’t play Sunday, the QB depth chart still will be McCoy starting, Clayton Thorson backing up, and emergency options that aren’t Webb as third-stringers. But he stressed that the Giants do intend to put Webb on the field this season and admitted he has the ability to help as an emergency QB if necessary down the road. In a season where coronavirus can wipe out any position group, Webb is here to help wherever he’s needed.
“His experience in the past at playing quarterback would kind of put him in that category (as a possible backup),” Judge said. “He’s a guy that’s got versatility. We’ll use Joe wherever available. That being said we’re trying to manage reps between Daniel, Colt and Thorson. There hasn’t been a lot right now for Webb.
“That would probably be strictly in more of an emergency role, and there’s been some other guys on the roster who have worked throughout training camp and the season that may fit that emergency role a little bit better because of their knowledge of the offense and experience here in what we would do in that emergency quarterback package,” Judge said. “But Joe’s a guy we brought in here. We intend on giving him a shot to play. He has a lot of experience. He’s still on the practice squad. So he’s taking individual and group work, and he’s doing a lot on scout teams as well.”
Webb last played in an NFL game for the Houston Texans in a 21-7 Wild Card playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 5, 2019. He logged 15 special teams snaps and downed a Texans punt deep in Colts territory.
Judge just cut underperforming special teams gunner Brandon Williams. The special teams have slumped lately, so Webb is more likely to help that side of the ball first.
But he was practicing as a QB early Wednesday and he’s in the meeting room. So don’t lose sight that he can contribute with the ball in his hands, too.
THE INJURY REPORT
With no practice, the only change to the Giants’ Thursday injury report was that TE Kaden Smith (knee) was added and projected as limited. Jones (hamstring/ankle) and guard Kevin Zeitler (shoulder) remained limited. Corner Darnay Holmes (knee) still was projected a non-participant … The Browns expect to get starting corner Denzel Ward (calf strain) back this week after missing the past three games.