Daniel Jones has taken his final snap of the season, and it is unclear when — or if — he will play again for the Giants.
Jones’ season-ending ruptured ACL in his right knee was verified by an MRI on Monday, according to head coach Brian Daboll.
Jones slumped to the ground Sunday without being hit on back-to-back possessions, separated by a television timeout that allowed him to try jogging off his knee pain on the sideline.
“In those moments as a player, obviously the [worst-case scenario] thought goes through your head and the first emotion is devastation,” Darius Slayton, the receiver for the Bears, said. “He is a highly resilient and powerful individual.
Jones will have surgery on a date to be determined. It is unclear whether Jones sustained any MCL or meniscus damage, as can occur with ACL injuries.
“I gave him a hug, and that’s my extent of it right now,” Daboll went on to say. “All I want to do is be there for the young man. I’m confident he’ll do everything he can to get back to playing.”
In the short term, the Giants have eight games remaining, including at least the next three without experienced backup Tyrod Taylor, who started three games this season but is on injured reserve (rib cage).
Daboll did not commit to Taylor’s comeback this season.
So the quarterbacks are Tommy DeVito, an undrafted rookie, and Matt Barkley, a journeyman who signed with the practice squad last week.
DeVito played the majority of the last two games in place of Taylor (13-10 loss to the Jets) and Jones (30-6 defeat to the Raiders).
General manager Joe Schoen could sign another free agent, but the trade deadline has gone.
“I think Tommy did a good job, but I’m not going to tell you one thing and then another,” Daboll said when asked if DeVito will be the next starter. “I am confident in Tommy. But I’ll sit down with Joe and figure out what comes next.”
Jones’ long-term prospects are clouded, particularly with USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye at the top of the 2024 draft.
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Giants must consider choosing a quarterback, even with $69 million. Daniel Jones, 26, is now nine games into a four-year, $160 million agreement with a guaranteed $35.5 million salary.
However, Jones’ two separate neck injuries, as well as the ACL, raise worries about his durability after he informed trainers he was “good” to return to play.
The Giants could select at the top of the draft since there is little reason to assume they will end much better than 2-15 this season.
Jones’ deal provides a manageable two-year out for a $22.2 million dead-cap charge in 2025.
While that figure would be the largest dead-cap charge in franchise history, surpassing the amount associated with the Odell Beckham Jr. trade in 2019, Jones’ dead cap plus a second-year cap hit for a drafted quarterback on a scaled contract would still be less than Jones’ $41.6 million figure in 2025.
Slayton, who has been Jones’ leading receiver in three of their first four seasons, is one of Jones’ strongest opponents.
Jones’ injury is “a bit personal” to his 2019 draft classmate.
“Quite frankly, people have been trying to get myself and him and multiple others out of here since we’ve been here,” he stated. “It has not stopped us previously. It will not stop us now. He is a good football player, and he will come back.
Jones will end the season with two touchdowns and six interceptions from six starts (1-5).
There is no guarantee that he will be able to play in Week 1 of next season following a 10-month recovery period, especially given his scrambling style of play.
“It’s devastating,” left tackle Andrew Thomas stated. “It stings to receive news like that, about things you can’t change. I’m doing everything I can to cheer him up during this difficult time, assist him, and wish him the best of luck with his recovery.”
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