New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones left the game against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter with a non-contact knee injury on Sunday. The initial fear, sources told ESPN, is that Jones has a torn ACL in his right knee. An MRI has been scheduled for Monday to determine the full extent of the injury, but there is concern this is a long-term issue.
Jones collapses twice on consecutive plays
Jones was seen flexing his knee after appearing to land hard out of bounds on a scramble early in the first quarter. He remained in the game and for a moment, it didn’t seem to be a glaring issue. However, on the final play of the first quarter, Jones attempted to leave the pocket and avoid a sack, but his knee buckled and he collapsed to the grass. He got up and began flexing his knee again, which continued throughout the commercial break.
Then, on the very first play of the second quarter, Jones attempted a three-step drop and as he reached his desired depth, he collapsed to the turf again. He was immediately attended by the medical staff and was replaced by backup Mike Glennon. Jones was officially ruled out for the rest of the game at halftime.
“It just buckled,” Jones told running back Saquon Barkley, per the FOX broadcast.
Jones was returning from a neck injury
The knee injury came as a cruel twist of fate for Jones, who was returning to the field after missing the previous three weeks with a serious neck injury. Jones had been cleared to play on Friday after practicing in a limited capacity throughout the week. He was wearing a protective brace around his neck during the game.
Jones had been having a solid season before the neck injury, throwing for 2,446 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. He had also rushed for 346 yards and two scores. He was hoping to lead the Giants to a strong finish in the NFC East, where they are currently third with a 4-7 record.
Glennon struggles in relief of Jones
Glennon, who had started the last three games in Jones’ absence, was unable to spark the Giants offense against the Raiders. He completed 18 of 36 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
The Giants lost the game 30-6, their fourth straight defeat. They were held to 245 total yards and 13 first downs, while committing four turnovers. They also failed to score a touchdown in the second half for the seventh time this season.
Giants face uncertain future at quarterback
If Jones is indeed done for the season, the Giants will have to rely on Glennon and third-stringer Jake Fromm for the remaining five games. Neither of them inspire much confidence, as Glennon has a career record of 7-23 as a starter and Fromm has never played a snap in the NFL.
The Giants will also have to evaluate their long-term plans at the quarterback position, as Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023. The Giants have the option to exercise a fifth-year option on Jones, which would guarantee him around $20 million in 2024, but they have to make that decision by May.
The Giants could also look to the draft or free agency for a potential replacement or competition for Jones, but the options are not very appealing. The 2023 draft class is considered weak at quarterback, and the free agent market is not much better. The Giants may have to stick with Jones and hope he can recover from his injuries and improve his consistency.
