The demise of Daniel Jones could have been barely exaggerated.
The Giants quarterback situation doesn’t seem like as dire because it looked just 4 days ago as they prepare for this week’s trip to London to play the Packers.
In Sunday’s 20-12 win over the Bears at MetLife Stadium, the Giants played greater than half of the fourth quarter essentially and not using a quarterback after Jones sprained his left ankle and backup Tyrod Taylor suffered a concussion.
After Taylor was knocked out of the sport, Jones returned to the sector, hobbled by his ankle that was heavily taped, and handed the ball off for the remainder of the sport.
Based on how Jones looked in the course of the early portion of Wednesday’s practice that was open to reporters — doing individual and position drills — he gave the impression to be a player who’ll be playing on Sunday. Jones dropped back, rolled out, threw the ball and never looked like he was laboring.
“I didn’t even see him limping,’’ center Jon Feliciano said. “I made just a little crack at him after I saw him make some drop-backs and throw the ball before practice and I said, ‘Oh, you’re fantastic.’ ’’
Giants head coach Brian Daboll said he’s “not surprised’’ to see Jones shaking off the injury.
“He’s a reasonably tough individual,’’ Daboll said. “I feel he’s made loads of progress since after the sport and has been within the treatment room consistently throughout these last couple of days.’’
Daboll wasn’t able to declare Jones ready to start out Sunday against the Packers, preferring to see how the ankle reacts and recovers from the practices. “We’ll put him on the market, get him some reps and see where he’s at,’’ he said.
Jones said he “felt good on the market’’ in practice.
“I’ve been working with the trainers and I’ve made loads of progress the last couple of days,’’ he said. “I’ll proceed to take heed to them and proceed to do what I can to be back on the market. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling quite a bit higher today.’’
Jones was listed officially as a “limited’’ participant in practice because he was “out and in’’ of team drills “just a little bit at some times.’’
He acknowledged to being “pretty sore after the sport,’’ and was careful to not make any firm declarations about his status for the Packers game.
“Sunday is just a little bit away,’’ Jones said. “I’ll proceed to progress throughout the week and see how I feel. I’m confident in my ability to throw from the pocket, throw outside the pocket, and make plays from each.’’
Although Taylor, who stays in concussion protocol, didn’t practice on Wednesday, Daboll refused to rule him out for Sunday. “Too soon to say,’’ he said.
If Taylor doesn’t make the trip, the Giants will sign veteran Davis Webb off the practice squad to the regular roster because the backup. Though they’ve yet to make that roster move, that is the most certainly scenario.
The team brought two free-agent quarterbacks (Jake Fromm and A.J. McCarron) in for workouts on Tuesday, but should not expected to sign either.
As for the 27-year-old Webb, who’s been within the league since 2017 when the Giants drafted him within the third round, he’s played in just one NFL game — two kneel-downs for the Bills last season in mop-up duty at the tip of a 45-17 win over the Jets — and has never thrown an NFL pass.
He’s, nevertheless, very conversant in Daboll’s offensive system, having been with him in Buffalo.
Webb, in actual fact, is so cerebral that his plans at any time when he finishes as a player are to teach. The Bills offered him a position as their quarterbacks coach last offseason, but he opted to sign back with the Giants and Daboll.
On Wednesday, Daboll professed his trust in Webb.
“Davis has been with me for some time, so he knows our stuff,’’ Daboll said. “I even have loads of confidence in Davis. He hasn’t played a full game within the regular season, but I’ve been around him for 4 years, I’ve watched him compete, I’ve watched how he prepares, I watch how he leads. If he’s afforded this chance, he’ll be ready. I’m completely happy he’s here.’’
So, too, is Webb.
“That’s why I desired to keep playing too, and never coach,’’ Webb said, referring to situations like this week. “You do wish to play, but Daniel’s the starting quarterback here and Tyrod’s the backup. I’m going to proceed to work to get a chance.’’
Like Daboll, Webb wasn’t surprised to see how quickly Jones has progressed since his ankle injury on Sunday.
“He’s a troublesome guy,’’ Webb said. “He works hard at it. That is an important thing in his life, and he’s been that way because the day I met him. You’ll be able to rally around a pacesetter like that.’’