Head Coach Brian Daboll Report On Key Player Injury…
Although there isn’t yet an official injury report, head coach Brian Daboll did provide some information about the status of a few important players who have been sidelined.
The official injury report for the New York Giants, who host their next game on Monday night, must be submitted by Thursday. However, head coach Brian Daboll did offer an early look at a few important players.
On Tuesday, the team’s first full practice following the bye week, offensive tackles Evan Neal (ankle) and Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) were not allowed to participate. Daboll stated that they hope to have Lawrence back later this week and that he will be able to play against the Packers. Lawrence was injured in Week 12 and missed his first career game.
Neal has been dealing with his second ankle injury this season; this last one occurred in Week 9 against the Raiders. He has missed his last three games because of this latest injury. Previously, he missed two games due to an earlier season ankle ailment.
Daboll also said that tight end Darren Waller (hamstring) is eligible to return from injured reserve and is progressing. However, it sounds like Waller won’t be ready to go by Monday as he continues on an aggressive treatment path to get back this season.
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Daniel Jones Has a Returning Giants Goal in Mind
After undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, Daniel Jones has set a goal to rejoin the New York Giants.
He knows he’s in for a long spell on the sidelines, but Daniel Jones is already setting a goal for his return to the New York Giants. The quarterback updated reporters on Wednesday, December 6 about how surgery to repair a torn ACL went, and Jones identified training camp as the target date for his official comeback.
Jones said “it’s definitely the goal to get back by training camp,” per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. The Giants’ QB1 latter also made it clear surgery revealed no other damage to his right knee, with Raanan noting how “additional meniscus and/or MCL damage” can occur with the type of injury Jones suffered against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9.
Instead, Jones is able to focus solely on healing the damaged ACL before camps get underway in late-July. He committed to “doing everything I can to check all the boxes and go through it as thoroughly and as well as I can,” per Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic.
Jones must focus on getting well, but in the interim, he will undoubtedly be watching what transpires with the Giants quarterback situation. With undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito having triumphed in the last two games after taking over for the starter, the Giants may still choose to select a quarterback at the top of the 2024 NFL draft.
Daniel Jones Can’t Assume Starting Job is Safe Upon Return
What Jones can’t do is take it for granted the starting job will still be waiting for him once he returns. Comments from general manager Joe Schoen offered a less than full endorsement of Jones’ future as the starter when he said, “We’re going to have to do something at quarterback. Whether it’s free agency or the draft, just where we are. [Tyrod Taylor’s] contract’s up, [Tommy DeVito] is obviously under contract and Daniel, we don’t know when he’s gonna be ready,” per SNY.tv’s Ben Krimmel.
Schoen did point out how a lot depends on Jones’ recovery timeframe, but a lukewarm vote of confidence only added to chatter the Giants could make a change. It was already a conversation thanks to Jones struggling mightily before his injury.
Pro Football Reference reports that the 26-year-old had taken 30 sacks and thrown six interceptions. A pitiful 5.7 yards per attempt further demonstrated how difficult it was for Jones to develop a meek passing game.
According to NFL on CBS, rookie DeVito has kept up with two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes (albeit from a much smaller sample size), and Jones’ meager numbers pale in comparison.