Daniel Jones expects to be in the saddle Week 1.
Coming off a torn ACL suffered in November, the New York Giants quarterback participated in 7-on-7 drills this week during OTAs. Asked Thursday if there are any doubts that he'll be ready to face Minnesota to open the 2024 campaign, Jones responded: "I don't have any doubt about it."
Head coach Brian Daboll said the Giants are still taking it slow with the QB coming off injury, keeping him out of full team drills.
"He looks good. We're not putting him in some team stuff, but he's making progress so that's why we got him in 7-on-7. ... We'll take it day by day and when he can do more, we'll put him in more," Daboll told reporters on Thursday.
Jones struggled out of the gate in 2023, under siege behind a porous offensive line and making brutal mental errors. The Giants started the season 1-4, with Jones throwing for fewer than 150 yards in three contests. The QB injured his neck in Week 5, knocking him out for three weeks. His return lasted fewer than 10 passes before he blew out his ACL in Week 9.
Jones, who's already not wearing a brace during workouts, said his rehab has been positive, and he's able to move around well.
"Feels good. Felt good out there today," he said on Thursday. "Just getting back in the swing of things and playing football against the defense. ... Thought it was good today. Continue to kind of progress. ... Rehab process has been smooth up to this point, and feels good doing all that kind of stuff."
Jones' injury history and on-field struggles for much of his five-year career led the Giants, who picked No. 6 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, to take deep dives into the rookie quarterbacks coming out.
"I mean, I wasn't fired up about it," Jones responded when asked about the club looking into potential replacements.
In the end, Big Blue eschewed drafting a quarterback at No. 6 or any point during the daft, instead selecting playmaking receiver Malik Nabers, who could help elevate the offense and make life easier on the quarterback.
The reality for Jones is that he's entering a make-or-break season despite just signing a four-year, $160 million extension last offseason. The first step is getting healthy. The next is staying healthy.
Jones must also fend off any drive from veteran Drew Lock for the starting gig. Despite the Giants' brass insisting Jones will be the starter entering the season, rumblings continue that Lock will at least get a shot to push Jones for the gig.
