DJ'S NECK OF THE WOODS
Jones amped to be full participant at practice
Welcome back, Daniel Jones. “Yeah, first ball he threw about took my head off,’’ wide receiver Darius Slayton said. Yes, Jones was amped up on Wednesday, his first day returning to the field as a full participant, his neck injury behind him as he awaits his start at quarterback Sunday for the Giants against the in-turmoil Raiders in Las Vegas.
“I do feel fresh, having not played in a few weeks,’’ Jones said.
Feeling fresh is one thing, but that does not mean Jones was given carte blanche to wing fastballs at his targets.
“I said, ‘You’re not throwing to the trainers anymore, pal. Slow that heater down,’ ’’ Slayton said. “He had good energy. For any of us, when you take time away from the game, your first day back, it’s excitement. I know he’s ready to play.’’
It has been a while. “Yeah, I’m excited,’’ Jones said. “Excited to be back in the swing of things and going through the week preparing to play.
“I feel good. I feel recovered.’’
The Giants are 2-6, coming off a game in which they had almost no mathematical chance to lose in the closing 24 seconds of regulation and still lost, 13-10, to the Jets in overtime. The Giants and their woe-scoring offense were no great shakes with Jones in the first five games. His return, though, is something to anticipate for a team that needs a jolt of something, as far as producing points and entering the end zone.
Jones went down in Week 5 after Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel sacked him from behind, causing an injury to the left side of Jones’ neck. He experienced symptoms in his left shoulder and down his left arm and weakness on that side. He was cleared for contact this past Sunday morning. This is a recurring deal with Jones. He missed the final six games of the 2021 season with a neck injury he says is different from this year’s ailment. He said “that was part of it’’ when asked if a disc was involved this time around.
Jones ran the ball 38 times in the first five games and the Giants need what he provides as a threat with his legs. He said he is not worried about taking hits
after his scrambles.
“I’m going to continue to be aggressive and look for opportunities to run when they’re there, and then be smart, get down and protect myself, also,’’ Jones said. “That’s something I’ve always tried to do and try to continue to improve at so, yeah, that won’t change.’’
Jones returns to an offense that struggled with him and labored without him. In his five starts, Jones produced only two touchdown passes and tossed six interceptions — after throwing only five interceptions the entire 2022 season. He was sacked 28 times and could have avoided several of them with better awareness in the pocket.
Without him, the Giants lost to the Bills (14-9) and defeated the Commanders (14-7) with Tyrod Taylor filling in as the starter. Taylor looked professional and did not turn the ball over but he messed up at the end of the first half in Buffalo, leaving the Giants on the Bills’ 1-yard line as time expired. Taylor was struggling last week against the Jets when he was forced out in the second quarter with an injury to his rib cage. Tommy DeVito, elevated from the practice squad, ran for the Giants’ lone touchdown but was not trusted to throw the ball in the second half of the loss to the Jets.
The last time Jones played, Saquon Barkley was sidelined with a high ankle sprain and having both of them on the field should benefit Jones’ ability to play-fake and Barkley not having to run into a crowded box of defenders.
“Well, it’s just good to have another player out there with DJ, I know he’s excited,’’ coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s played with Saquon for a bit so it’s just good to have him back and we’ll see where these other guys are at the end of the week.’’
The “other guys’’ Daboll referred to are offensive tackles. Jones should also be aided by the return of one or both of the starters. Andrew Thomas (hamstring) could be ready this week after missing the past seven games and Evan Neal (ankle) is close to a return after missing the past two games.
Jones and the Giants will face a team in flux. The Raiders late Tuesday night fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler, fired offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi on Wednesday and will bench Jimmy Garoppolo and start Aidan O’Connell at quarterback. Antonio Pierce, the former Giants linebacker, is the interim head coach.
Most of this has little to do with Jones.
“It’s your starting quarterback,’’ Slayton said. “It means a lot to have DJ back.’’