EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is due to start on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens after losing last week’s game due to ankle and hamstring injuries, a source told ESPN.
Jones, who was listed as questionable for the game, passed all checkpoints this week in practice. Coach Joe Judge was looking to see if Jones could protect himself on the pitch and have some of the mobility that allowed him to be a threat before the injury.
The judge said earlier in the week that Jones was “on the right track” to start.
The Giants (5-9) are still in the NFC East race, a game behind the Washington Football Team with two remaining.
Colt McCoy has replaced Jones twice in the previous four weeks. The Giants shared those games, winning in Seattle and losing at home to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night. The Giants scored 24 points in the two combined games.
The Giants have said that Jones will be their quarterback for the remainder of this season and afterwards, when he is healthy. He suffered a hamstring injury last month and an ankle injury in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago.
Jones said this week he is “feeling better”. He picked up most of the representatives from the first team, although he was listed as a limited participant in practice for most of the week.
Jones, 23, had been playing the best football of his young career before his injuries. The Giants will need a great performance against a Ravens team that has scored at least 34 points in each of the last three games.
New York has scored 30 points once this season.
Jones’ second season was one of ups and downs. He launched just eight touchdown passes and made 14 turnovers. The sixth overall pick of 2019 had two games with at least four touchdown passes and no interception in its debut season.
This week was the best Jones has seen since his injuries. He was moving well in training and seemed able to run if necessary.
Jones’ mobility has been a big part of his game this season. He is second in the Giants with 403 racing yards.
“I was encouraged by the way he moved [Wednesday]”The judge said earlier this week.” I was very excited. I think that some of the moves we made with him last week, although it was kind of hard for him to stay out with the double injuries, I think it helped to solve some of those problems.
“All the feedback we received from the medical point of view is that he has continued to improve and is less at risk of getting hurt, and that is really what we are looking for, as positive news.”
While Jones is set to return, linebacker Kyler Fackrell (calf) needs more time. Fackrell’s 21-day window to return from the wounded reserve was activated earlier this week. The Devonta Freeman lap race (ankle) should also not be activated.
Linebacker Blake Martinez (ankle) and cornerback Darnay Holmes (knee) are expected to play after being listed as questionable.