NFL
Is Daniel Jones playing in the preseason finale vs. the New York Jets
Many New York Giants fans hoped to see the quarterback play at least the first quarter, hoping it would better prepare him for the regular NFL season.
Unfortunately for those people, it’s likely not going to happen. Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced that his starters won’t take the field against the G-Men at MetLife Stadium. While Daboll is yet to make things official, all signs point to Jones and the other starters watching this one from the sidelines, too.
Jones should enjoy this one from the bench and not risk injury. He is still recovering from his torn ACL and there’s no reason to put him out there in a meaningless game at MetLife. In this one, other players have way more on the line, so letting Jones rest up and mentally/physically prepare for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 makes much more sense.
Why, maybe, should he be in the lineup against the Jets?
The general opinion is that he should be present at MetLife because the last time Jones was on the field, he looked highly unpracticed in the first quarter while playing against the Houston Texans. In the Week 2 preseason matchup, Jones threw two interceptions in the first 15 minutes of play. To make it worse, he completed the same number of passes to Houston players as he did to his own teammates.
Jones showed improvement and composure in the second quarter, displaying a sense of calm amidst the game’s intensity. However, this period of composure coincided with the presence of mostly backup players on the field. As a result, it was expected that Jones would return to the field and continue to develop his connection with his receivers and offensive linemen.
The upcoming season places a major pressure on Jones, as his future with the Big Blue team is contingent on his performance, with no guaranteed financial security beyond the current season. His impending showdown against the Vikings presents an invaluable opportunity for him to make a resounding statement. In light of this, Daboll’s decision to withhold from deploying Jones in a late August game against the Jets seems reasonable, as it allows Jones to ease into the season and avoid unnecessary risk.