Brian Daboll is going to stick with Daniel Jones mainly because he does not have any other choice, which says more about the quality of the other quarterbacks on the roster behind him than anything.
“I think he gives us the best chance, number one,” Daboll said. “I thought there were a lot of plays that he did exactly what he needed to do and then look, there were some plays where it wasn’t just on Daniel, it was a collection of things. It wasn’t just one person, protection, or a route. It was a collective deal, and we’ll sit here, we’ll watch the tape. We’ll do everything we can do to be better this week.”
Jones was ineffective once again on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles — an all-too familiar result over the last six years. He was held to 14-of-21 passing for a measly 99 yards before getting the rest of the day off late in the third quarter for Drew Lock with the Eagles up 28-3.
The career backup was even worse, remarkably enough, despite both teams playing their backups for the last quarter.
For now, Jones is all Daboll has, and the head coach is saying the right thing to ensure that a clear direction is being provided for the team. But a more realistic assessment of Jones’ play could be found through rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who expressed his frustration after catching four of eight targets for 41 yards.
“Watch the target tape,” Nabers said when asked if the Eagles defense had done anything different to slow him down. “That was it. I was open.”
There were moments where it looked like Nabers, who had missed the previous two weeks because of a concussion, had a better grasp on the Giants’ offense than Jones.
While Nabers ran an out up the left sideline — and with Jones transfixed on him — he had to point to veteran receiver Darius Slayton, who was roughly 17 yards behind him running a dig route wide-open across the middle of the field for what should have been a simple 15-yard gain. Jones had time and stepped up in the pocket but while lunging forward, threw behind Slayton for an incomplete pass.
Another dud at MetLife Stadium ensured that Jones’ drought continues. He has not thrown a touchdown pass at home since Week 17 of the 2022 season.
More importantly, he is 24-42-1 as a starter, confirming the already foregone conclusion that he is not the organization’s long-term answer under center.
It seems like a given that the Giants will decline the final two years of Jones’ four-year, $160 million deal. His numbers are nothing more than mundane this season, certainly not befitting of a franchise quarterback: 62.5% completion rating, 1,442 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions in seven games.
