EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is considered questionable for Sunday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns with ankle and hamstring injuries.
Colt McCoy will start when the Giants decide Jones isn’t getting close enough to 100%. McCoy started with an upset win over the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago when Jones was out with the hamstring injury.
Tight ends Evan Engram (calf) and Kaden Smith (knee) were also listed as questionable. Cornerback Darnay Holmes (knee) is out.
McCoy had an increased workload during practice this week, including Friday when he took the first snapshot with the starters on the attack. That is generally a good indication of who will start in that week’s game.
But this isn’t a normal week for the Giants, who didn’t train on Thursday after offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19. They also put James Bradberry on the reserve / COVID-19 list after he was considered risky close contact with a chiropractor who tested positive. Bradberry will miss Sunday night’s game.
Coach Joe Judge said before Friday’s practice that Jones would get “his share” of the first team photos. The team thought it was a challenge to go into the day whether Jones would be ready to start this week, especially after the ankle had swollen earlier in the week.
So the Giants, one game behind first place in the NFC East, haven’t closed the door to Jones playing on Sunday. Judge said earlier Friday that he hoped to have an answer as to whether Jones could start by the end of the day, but was willing to wait until after Saturday’s run-through to make a final decision, if necessary.
Judge needed Jones to prove that he was not only capable of protecting himself, but that his overall mobility was there. It wasn’t in last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals when he threw for 127 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and a lost fumble. He couldn’t escape the pressure or run out of pocket and suffered an ankle injury on a hit early in the second half. For the first time in his young career, Jones didn’t make a hasty attempt and was fired six times.
Jones said his mobility was limited against the Cardinals and the ankle was “painful” earlier this week. He was listed as a limited participant in the training on Wednesday and Friday.
“Obviously, sooner or later I would know that would be great,” McCoy said after Friday’s practice. “But it’s about how DJ feels. I thought he looked good today, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Jones insisted he felt “good” on Wednesday, despite looking bad during the open portion of practices. But Judge has noted that it is imperative that he work almost exclusively with his eyes and not ears when it comes to determining Jones’ health.
The quarterback had been adamant about wanting to play for the past few weeks and is preparing again this week as if he’s about to start.
Whoever starts for the Giants teams up with tight coach Freddie Kitchens as the substitute. Kitchens, who were fired by the Browns less than a year ago, will take Garrett’s place on Sunday.