The hamstring and ankle injuries New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones sustained in the past month have taken away one of his biggest weapons. His legs.
The Giants' second-leading rusher with 466 yards on 56 carries — that's a 7.3 yard average — Jones has only run once for 3 yards in his past two starts.
The way Jones sounded Wednesday, that's not likely to change on Sunday when the Giants (5-10) try to keep their hopes alive for an NFC East title in a game against the Dallas Cowboys (6-9).
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Sterling Shepard during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
Washington (6-9) can win the division Sunday night with a victory over Philadelphia. If the Eagles win, the team that takes the Dallas-Giants game goes to the playoffs.
The problem for the Giants, who have lost seven straight to Dallas, is Jones is limited. He hurt his right hamstring against Cincinnati in a win on Nov. 29 and missed the Seattle game the following week.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft returned against Arizona on Dec. 13 but sprained his left ankle in a game in which he was sacked six times. Jones missed the Cleveland game on Dec. 20, and started last weekend against Baltimore, getting sacked six more times.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (90) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. Ravens Calais Campbell (93) helps on the play. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
He was Eli Manning in recent seasons: a sitting duck in the pocket.
“I feel good, I feel healthy,” Jones said Wednesday after practice. “But I think you can tell from the tape that I’m not… I can’t do a lot of the same things I’m used to doing. I’ll continue to work and work to improve. But for the time being, I’ll probably have to adjust the way I play. I’ve been doing that the last few weeks.”
Coach Joe Judge has said the Giants are not doing to do anything to endanger Jones.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones looks to throw a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
“Look, we’re going to do whatever it takes to win the game,” Judge said. “ That being said, we’re always going to consider our players’ health as the priority. We’re going to work to not put our players in any situation where we put them at greater risk of injury. That comes to how we protect him, how we call plays, and how we execute on the field.”
Jones was a full-go at practice on Wednesday, one of the first times since his injury he has not been limited early in the week. Jones refused to quantify the level of his health.
“I certainly haven’t been as involved in the run game, certain areas of getting out of the pocket, scrambling, things like that,” he said. “But I feel good. I feel a lot better, and I’ll continue to work with the trainers and improve.”
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, center, talks to quarterback Colt McCoy (12) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP PhotoCorey Sipkin)
Are Jones and Judge trying to lull the Cowboys to sleep with the stakes so high? Tune in Sunday.
NOTES: Rookie CB Darnay Holmes (knee) practiced fully. He has missed the last three games. TE Evan Engram (ankle), WR Sterling Shepard (ribs) and S Jabrill Peppers (ankle) were limited. WR Golden Tate (calf) and FB Eli Penny (illness) did not participate.
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