Brian Daboll’s homecoming will be a lot whole tougher if he doesn’t have his starting quarterback.
The second-year Giants head coach said Monday he is “optimistic” that won’t be the case.
Daniel Jones left Sunday’s game in Miami with a neck injury after being sacked by Andrew Van Ginkel. Jones told reporters afterward that it felt “similar” to the neck contusion he suffered in 2021 that forced him to miss that season’s final six games, but there is an initial belief that this injury is less severe.
“He’s feeling better, so I think he’s moving in the right direction,” Daboll said during a Zoom conference of Jones’ availability for next Sunday’s game in Buffalo. “We’ll see where he is when he comes back on Wednesday, but he doesn’t feel terrible today.”
Daboll was preparing to meet with the doctors and trainers to get the full extent of Jones’ testing results, but Jones told Daboll on Monday morning that he “feels probably better than maybe he thought he would feel.”
“I’m optimistic after talking to him (about playing this week),” Daboll said.
Jones left Sunday’s game when the Giants were trailing by 18 points, and they ultimately lost to the Dolphins, 31-16, in a game where their makeshift offensive line combined with their mediocre defense against the NFL’s best offense gave New York little chance to compete.
Jones had another abysmal passing performance with 119 yards while competing 14 of 20 attempts with no touchdowns and no interceptions. The fifth-year pro has not played at the same level as he did last season, but the Giants’ offensive line is making the situation even worse. Jones was pressured on 44 percent of his dropbacks Sunday and has been pressured 81 times this season — the third-most for any player through five games since ESPN began tracking pressures in 2009.
“I think he made some good throws under a good amount of pressure,” Daboll said of evaluating Jones under such challenging circumstances.
If Jones has a setback during the week or the Giants decide to play it safe, Tyrod Taylor would be in line to make his first start since becoming the Giants’ backup quarterback last season. Taylor completed 9 of 12 passes for 86 yards and rushed three times for 14 yards after replacing Jones against the Dolphins.
Meanwhile, there is optimism that running back Saquon Barkley will play against the Bills after missing the last three games with a high-ankle injury. Left tackle Andrew Thomas has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury.
“I think it’s yet to be determined here, so we’ll see,” Daboll said. “I think Saquon is probably closer than Andrew Thomas is.”
Thomas is the biggest loss on the offensive line, but the Giants haven’t consistently had any of the same Week 1 starters for the last four games because of injuries or performance issues aside from right tackle Evan Neal.
Rookie center John Michael Schmitz missed Sunday’s game because of a shoulder injury, which forced Ben Bredeson to shift from left guard to center. Mark Glowinski, who was benched at right guard after one game, played Sunday at left guard, while right guard Marcus McKethan left with a knee injury in the second quarter. Jalen Mayfield replaced McKethan after being elevated from the practice squad Saturday because another backup guard, Shane Lemieux, is out with a groin injury.
Daboll said he thinks McKethan will “be OK” to play in Buffalo, but that as of Monday it was “too early to tell” on Schmitz as well as starting inside linebacker Micah McFadden (foot). Daboll said he will have “more on Wednesday” regarding outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (ankle).
In addition, Wan’Dale Robinson will likely sit out Wednesday’s practice to rest his knee but should be OK to play next Sunday night. Rookie cornerback Deonte Banks will likely be limited Wednesday after rolling his ankle on the second-to-last play of the game in Miami but should also be good to go against the Bills.
Source: Berkshire mont
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