Daniel Jones was back on the field Wednesday, but that does not mean he will be able to start Sunday at quarterback for the Giants when they face the Commanders at MetLife Stadium and look to end a four-game losing streak.
Jones, dealing with a neck injury, was cleared to throw and he was allowed to be a limited participant in practice, working in individual drills. He has not yet been cleared for contact, and until he is, he cannot get back out there in a game.
“I obviously want to be out there extremely badly,’’ Jones said Wednesday. “I want to be there for the team and on the field.’’
It looked as if Jones took part in most of the regular quarterback drills early in practice and seemed to move well and without discomfort.
“I would say he’s eager to come back,’’ coach Brian Daboll said. “He wants to play, but obviously, just like any player, if you’re not ready to play based on the doctor’s evaluation, we won’t put him out there, but he’s getting better. That’s why we’re going to have him out here.’’
Jones did not play in last week’s 14-9 loss to the Bills in Orchard Park. Tyrod Taylor filled in and completed 24 of 36 passes for 200 yards but, for the fourth consecutive game, the Giants failed to score a touchdown on offense.
The clearance to throw is a sign of progress but it could have little bearing on Jones’ status for this weekend.
He missed the final six games of the 2021 season with a neck issue — a different injury to this one, Jones said — and during that hiatus Jones was able to throw in practice. There is nothing wrong with his arm, of course.
Jones said he is not yet symptom-free.
Until he is, it is unlikely he will be cleared for contract.
“I feel good, the pain has definitely subsided a good bit,’’ he said.
On the NBC broadcast of the Giants-Bills game, it was reported that Jones was experiencing pain in the left side of his neck and had symptoms affecting his left shoulder.
“I feel it a little bit, just working through it,’’ Jones said. “It’s just an effect from the neck injury. I really don’t feel much pain at all.’’
Jones said the concern is the pain in the neck coming back after he is cleared for contact and gets hit.
Watching from the sideline, Jones said he thought Taylor “played really well’’ and that the game “didn’t go our way there at the end which was tough for everybody.’’
As for the last play, when Taylor’s lob in the end zone for tight end Darren Waller fell incomplete, with Waller heavily engaged with cornerback Taron Johnson, Jones smiled and went only so far.
“I think there was some contact there, part of the game, tough way to finish,’’ Jones said. “I’m not going to say exactly what I thought.’’
