Jones could be playing lame game vs. Dallas

Either Daniel Jones is out to trick the Cowboys, or he simply decided to come clean.

Whatever the reason, the Giants’ quarterback chose Wednesday to address his obvious physical limitations, curiously after the Ravens game, in which he looked the healthiest he has since Week 12.

“I’ve played from the pocket the past couple weeks, and I expect to continue to do that until I’m healthy,” Jones said. “We’ll see what exactly, but I expect the game plan and what I’m asked to do to be fairly similar to what it’s been these past few weeks.”

Jones’ words didn’t match what happened on the practice field.

Jones was a full practice participant on Wednesday for the first time in more than a month. And though he has been playing through a right hamstring strain and left ankle sprain, Jones’ ankle was removed from the Giants’ injury report altogether.

He is now listed only as having a hamstring injury, his original injury from a Week 12 road victory at Cincinnati. He sprained his ankle in his Week 14 return against Arizona.

“It’s certainly something I have to be aware of with my mobility and what I can do, and something I’m cognizant of playing in the game,” Jones said. “But it’s how I’ve played these last couple of weeks and I’ve kind of gotten used to it.”

Jones had been doing damage with his legs earlier this season. He had 74 rush yards in a Week 6 victory over Washington, 92 in a loss at Philadelphia the following week, and 64 yards and a touchdown in a Week 10 win over the Eagles.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett mixed designed runs and read-options into the regular game plan, bringing a concept to the Giants that he used in years past to beat them with Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.

But Jones has run the ball only once in his two games since the initial injury, and that was a threeyard run on the Giants’ second-tolast play of the game in Baltimore. Jones was not gimpy operating in the pocket or playing against the Ravens, but he was still clearly determined not to leave the pocket and put any stress on his ailments.

In the last few weeks, Jones pretty much has stuck to the script of saying that he wants to play and is preparing to play and listening to the trainers, not stepping far out of that line. But on Wednesday he was suddenly expansive on the subject of his limitations.

“I feel good, I feel healthy, but I think you can tell from the tape that I’m not… I can’t do a lot of the same things I’m used to doing,” Jones said. “I’ll continue to work and work to improve. But for the time being, I’ll probably have to adjust the way I play. I’ve been doing that the last few weeks.”

Maybe Jones and the Giants are playing mind games with the Cowboys and Jones actually feels good enough to get back to some of his running ways. They could be trying to catch Dallas off guard.

Giants fans certainly hope Jones is bluffing, because if he has to play from the pocket, it doesn’t look good for Big Blue to beat a Dallas team averaging 30 points per game the last three weeks.

That goes especially with tight end Evan Engram (left ankle) limited in Wednesday’s practice. Engram probably will dress for the game but it’s unclear how effective he can be.

INJURY REPORT

Wideout Golden Tate (right calf) and fullback Eli Penny (illness) both did not practice. Penny projects to return Sunday and was running on the side Wednesday. It looks like Tate’s season could be over. He did limited stationary work with trainers on the side.

Jones and corner Darnay Holmes (knee) were full participants. Sterling Shepard (rib) and safety Jabrill Peppers (ankle) were both limited but project to play.

Edge Kyler Fackrell (calf) has a chance to return from injured reserve. Corner Madre Harper returned to practice from IR (knee).

The Giants also placed WR David Sills (already on injured reserve) on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. It is Sills’ second time on the list since a positive test early in the summer.

Meanwhile, here is the Dallas Cowboys’ injury report:

Did not participate: LB Leighton Vander Esch (ankle), CB Rashard Robinson (knee), S Darian Thompson (concussion), S Donovan Wilson (illness). Limited: CB Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring/groin), S Xavier Woods (ribs).