Daniel Jones’ return from a neck injury that sidelined him for three weeks lasted all but 17 minutes — and now he’s done for the season after suffering a torn ACL during Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, head coach Brian Daboll confirmed on Monday.
The injury appeared to have occurred on the first play of the second quarter. In an attempt to evade pressure, the 26-year-old went down untouched after making a cut to roll out to his right. After some time in the blue medical tent, he walked to the locker room and did not return — the final act of a season that lasted just six games.
But Daboll confirmed that Jones was hurt on the final play of the first quarter when he also went down untouched — his right knee buckling in the process. Daboll said Jones told the coaching staff and team doctors that he was fine to go back out, but only lasted one more play before his season ended.
Tommy DeVito stepped in for a second consecutive week after relieving Tyrod Taylor in Week 8 — who suffered a ribcage injury during a 13-10 loss to the Jets — but once again could muster little within a broken Giants offense.
New York signed Matt Barkley this past week to the practice squad but did not elevate him for Week 9 in Las Vegas.
Jones’ injury clinches what was as inauspicious a start as ever to life working under a four-year, $160 million contract extension that was signed during the offseason following a surprising, breakout 2022 campaign in which he helped lead the Giants to the NFC Divisional Round.
Throwing for just two touchdowns and six interceptions in his first five games behind a porous and patchwork offensive line, Jones suffered a neck injury when hit by unblocked Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. He was sacked two more times on Sunday against a Raiders defense that had struggled this season. But under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, who stepped in this week for the fired Josh McDaniels, they allowed just 277 total yards to the Giants.
DeVito completed 15-of-20 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Not only has New York scored the fewest points in the NFL this season (101), but has gained the second-fewest passing yards (1,359). Jones accounted for 909 of those while completing 67.5% of his passes. He was sacked 30 times while going 1-5 for the now 2-7 Giants.
Whether or not New York will bring in another quarterback to take over as the No. 1 man under center for the remainder of the season remains to be seen. Veteran options like Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan are available on the free-agent market. But there is an opportunity for general manager Joe Schoen to keep the cast that he has now to waive the proverbial white flag on the 2023 season. That would assuredly clinch him a top-5 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft where he could potentially draft one of USC’s Caleb Williams or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. to reset Big Blue’s quarterback position as Jones has an out on his deal after next year.
