Daniel Jones to start Sunday for Giants, impresses teammates with toughness
WARE, England — Saquon Barkley was asked if a starting quarterback displaying toughness resonates with the entire team. Barkley knew how he wanted to respond, but then caught himself after glancing up and seeing Daniel Jones in the back of the room.
“I really don’t want to say nothing nice about him right now,’’ Barkley said, smiling.
The Giants did not have to travel out of the country and clear across the pond to learn about the player they have at the most important position in football. There continue to be questions surrounding the future of the 25-year-old Jones, but no one can doubt his determination to shrug off physical issues and get back onto the field.
The Giants came out with their injury report for their game Sunday against the Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and Jones’ name did not appear on it. He has no injury designation after he was a full participant Friday in a light practice at an immaculate grass field amid the rolling hillside of Hertfordshire at the Hanbury Manor Hotel and Country Club, where the Giants are staying during their short time here, one hour north of London.
Just like that, Jones is clear of the sprained left ankle that forced him out of the victory last Sunday over the Bears.
“Everyone knows how I feel about DJ, just his mentality, his work ethic, type of talent that he is,” Barkley said. “He’s a gritty guy, he’s a tough guy. Yes it does speak volumes when your quarterback has that mindset. We’re going to continue to rock with him and just keep going.”
Jones will have a different backup, because Tyrod Taylor did not clear concussion protocol and has been ruled out for the game. Davis Webb will be activated off the practice squad as the No. 2 quarterback.
Jones is No. 1.
“Feeling good,” Jones said. “I think I’ve felt better every day. Felt good today in practice.”
Jones had to come out of the game last week late in the third quarter after he was sacked and sprained his left ankle. He would not have returned to the field, but Taylor went down with a concussion and Jones was summoned and asked to line up as a wide receiver as Barkley ran the offense as a Wildcat quarterback. Jones later went behind center to hand the ball off to Barkley three times in the closing minutes.
After that game, Jones admitted his ankle was hurting and he could not run as he normally does.
“Early in the week I started feeling better pretty quickly and realized I was progressing and felt good,” he said.
Less than a week after incurring the injury, Jones showed he could run well enough to convince the coaching staff that he will be able to use his legs on the rollouts and bootlegs that are a staple of this offense.
“We have a game plan we’re going to try to execute,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “We watch him do those plays and if we feel comfortable as a coaching staff, obviously medical has to feel comfortable, we have to feel comfortable as well. He’s made progress, I’d say good progress.”
Now that Jones is back in control of the offense, the Giants would like to see more production out of a unit that is averaging just 19 points a game and has managed to score just seven touchdowns in four games.
Barkley is the NFL’s rushing leader, and handing it to him has been the only reliable way for the Giants to move the ball.
The passing attack has been cobbled together, with only two fully-healthy veteran players, David Sills and Darius Slayton. Richie James, the team co-leader (along with Barkley) in receptions with 15, was limited this week with an ankle injury, but is not on the final injury report. Kenny Golladay (knee) and Kadarius Toney (hamstring) did not make the trip. Rookie Wan’Dale Robinson will miss his fourth consecutive game after spraining a knee in the season opener.
There are a worrisome number of absences. The starting quarterback will not miss this game, though.
“He’s a tough dude — that doesn’t surprise me,’’ defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said. “It does and it makes us want to play for each other more knowing that we are all nicked up a little bit, we all are hurting a little bit, but we’re all fighting for each other and fighting for a win. It pumps you up a little bit showing that your brother is fighting for you even though he’s wounded. Just always have his back, and the way you have his back is doing your job and playing well.’’
