New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones was not practicing on Thursday, sidelined with a high ankle sprain that will almost certainly keep him out of Monday night’s game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Head coach Pat Shurmur has veteran Eli Manning taking the first team reps at the moment and counted as if Manning will make his first start under center since Week 2.
“He’s getting better. He’s making improvements,” Shurmur said of Jones on Thursday. “He’s a fast healer, from what I can tell…As you get further and further toward Monday, if he’s not out practicing, the chances would be very slim.”
A high ankle sprain, as we know, is usually a multi-week injury and with just four games remaining this season, Jones could be done for the year. Shurmur would not commit to that.
“Oh sure, absolutely,” Shurmur said when asked if he was optimistic if Jones could return this season. “I don’t know that. We’ll have to see. But I’m optimistic that he could.”
Earlier in the day on Thursday, there was a buzz that the Giants were shelving Jones to a) give him a break from the chronic losing and b) provide Manning with a few more days in the sun as his Giants career sunsets.
Nonsense, says my old SNY colleague and veteran NFL reporter Mike Garafolo.
Jones has a legitimate injury and the Giants are doing what any sensible team would do. They’re also 2-10 and this is not a “must-win” game where they need to risk a player’s health.
