Giants QB Daniel Jones has season-ending torn ACL،
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — An MRI performed Monday morning confirmed the New York Giants’ fears. Quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season, coach Brian Daboll announced.
“All I know is he has a torn ACL,” Daboll said. “Obviously surgery will follow, but I don’t know when that will happen.”
The Giants (2-7) were still digesting the news Monday afternoon that their quarterback’s season was over after just six games.
“It’s devastating,” left tackle Andrew Thomas said. “One of my teammates. One of my good friends. It sucks to hear news like that.”
Jones missed three games with a neck injury before tearing his knee ligament on Sunday following a non-contact injury. It caps a disappointing campaign for the Giants quarterback, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract this offseason, and complicates his future and that of the team.
The Giants will now turn to Tommy DeVito or Matt Barkley this week against the Dallas Cowboys. Daboll has not committed to starting DeVito after he arrives to replace Jones on Sunday in Las Vegas.
DeVito completed 15 of 20 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions against the Raiders, a week after throwing for minus 1 yard in an overtime loss to the New York Jets. Barkley is currently on the practice squad.
“I thought Tommy did a good job,” Daboll said. “But again, I’m not going to give you one thing and that’s a different thing. I have confidence in Tommy. He’s done a good job. But I’m going to sit down and talk with Joe, figure out what’s next. .”
Daboll also said he wasn’t sure if backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is on injured reserve with a rib injury, would return this season. It depends on how his ribs heal.
Sooner than later, Taylor could return after the Giants’ bye week in early December.
Jones, 26, has thrown two touchdown passes and six interceptions in six games this season. He suffered two injuries, including the second neck injury in his five professional seasons. He also missed the final six games of the 2021 season with a disc injury in his neck.
The Giants’ starting quarterback still has $35.5 million fully guaranteed for next season. After that, only $23 million is guaranteed for injuries.
The Giants had significant aspirations entering the season. They added players for Jones (including tight end Darren Waller in a trade and speedy wide receiver Jalin Hyatt in the draft) in hopes of becoming more explosive offensively.
Instead, they are last in the NFL averaging 11.2 points per game and appear to be on track to have a high pick in the 2024 NFL Draft with their quarterback stuck on the sidelines.
Jones left Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half with a non-contact knee injury. He tripped on a sack on the final play of the first quarter when it was likely the injury occurred.
Jones spent time between quarters testing and bending his right knee. On the first play of the second quarter, he collapsed to the ground untouched as he fell.
“He felt like he gave in,” Daboll said of the final play of the first quarter. “And then he took care of it. We went to talk to him, and he said, ‘No, I’m fine.’ Then I came back and obviously that wasn’t the case.”
Surgery and a long rehabilitation now await him. The traditional nine months of recovery would allow Jones to return to the field in August for training camp.
Between now and then, the Giants’ quarterback position could look different with Taylor set to become a free agent and depending on how the draft goes.
“It’s pretty disappointing. You never want to see one of your teammates go down,” receiver Darius Slayton said. “But for me personally, being here my whole career with [Jones]It’s kind of the natural bond that a quarterback and a receiver have, obviously for me it’s a little personal. »
Jones, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Duke, is a popular locker room player and team captain. He was coming off a solid first year working with Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, which gave him hope of continuing to improve.
Jones finished sixth in the NFL in 2022 with a 62.9 QBR and threw 15 touchdown passes, rushed for seven more scores and had just eight total turnovers.
The Giants made the playoffs and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2011 season. This helped land Jones the new contract and make him his potential long-term quarterback before the injuries.
