LOOKS GRIM
Jones looks unlikely to be healthy enough to face Browns
The Giants haven’t made a final decision yet, but it’s unlikely that quarterback Daniel Jones will be able to start and play Sunday night against the Cleveland Browns. Colt McCoy was the first quarterback under center at Friday’s MetLife Stadium practice, and Jones again hopped awkwardly on his early throws and was only a limited participant.
Jones is listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain and a left ankle sprain, and he appeared in pain on both Wednesday and Friday when putting weight on his ankle as he threw in periods open to the media.
The Giants Thursday.
Jones’ status is still up in the air going into Saturday for a second straight game, so it’s possible the didn’t practice coaching staff is doing the same thing it did last week: giving him one last workout on Saturday before making the final call.
But Jones was a full participant last Friday before playing in Sunday’s 26-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He wasn’t able to get to full practice this week after playing on his bad hamstring last week and injuring his left ankle on a second half sack.
“Obviously with two injuries, it’s a little bit (of a) different situation than it was just last week,” Judge said Thursday.
Judge said before practice, “I just want to see how this guy moves around and progresses. I just really want to see his mobility overall.”
“We’re not going to have some kind of obstacle course we throw him through,” Judge said. “It’s going to be just seeing him through football movements, some individual drills, of some team settings, and how he looks out there.”
Judge said he ideally wanted to make a decision before the end of day Friday. Clearly McCoy preferred that, as well.
“Obviously, to know sooner than later, that would be great,” McCoy said. “But it’s all about how D.J. feels. I thought he looked good today, but we’ll see where it goes.”
Still, the Giants finished Friday’s practice without having made a definitive call. If Jones sits, it will be the second game he’s missed in three weeks.
McCoy started two weeks ago in the Giants biggest win in four years, a 17-12 victory in Seattle over the Seahawks.
If McCoy plays Sunday it will mark a revenge game against the Browns team that once drafted him and mismanaged an in-game concussion that had a major impact on his career.
It will also be a revenge game for Giants tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens, who will call the offensive plays in place of Jason Garrett, who tested positive this week for Covid-19.
“I haven’t really thought about that,” McCoy said of a possible revenge game opportunity. “We’ll see how it goes with D.J. ... We know how good their defense is, especially upfront. They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. We have our hands full with them. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to practice yesterday, but we had a good practice today. Hopefully we can get a little more work in (Saturday) before the game.”
ENGRAM AILING
Tight end Evan Engram, the Giants’ most explosive offensive player with the ball in his hands, was added to the Giants’ injury report after Friday’s practice as questionable with a calf injury. Both Engram and tight end Kaden Smith (knee) are limited.
NEWS AND NOTES
Don’t be surprised if practice squad veteran QB Joe Webb finds his way to the active roster
soon to help both on special teams and on offense, perhaps even as a backup quarterback as early as Sunday. Clayton Thorson backed up McCoy against Seattle two weeks ago. … Running back Devonta Freeman, who hasn’t played since Week 7 due to ankle and hamstring injuries, was designated for return and returned to practice Friday. He is eligible to be added to the active roster as early as Sunday. Freeman was also on the reserve/Covid-19 list from Dec. 5 until Thursday. … Safety Adrian Colbert, who also was designated for return this week and hasn’t played since Week 5, could be activated for Sunday’s game to help a depleted secondary, as well. … Expect safety/ corner Julian Love to start at outside corner in place of James
Bradberry, who is on the COVID reserve list. Rookie safety Xavier McKinney should see even more time at slot corner with Danary Holmes (knee) out a second straight week and Love bumped outside. Colbert also can help as an extra body at safety, where Love also rotates in.
FINAL INJURY REPORTS
GIANTS: Out: CB Darnay Holmes (knee). Questionable: QB Daniel Jones (hamstring/ankle), TE Evan Engram (calf), TE Kaden Smith (knee).
BROWNS: Out: [OG Wyatt Teller (ankle), S Andrew Sendejo (concussion). Questionable: CB Denzel Ward (calf), CB Kevin Johnson (groin), TE Austin Hooper (neck), TE David Njoku (knee), WR KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring).