Chad Jones not cleared for rookie minicamp

Chad Jones said last month that he hoped to be able to participate in this week’s rookie minicamp. He will not.

The safety has yet to be cleared to participate in football activities. He was with the team for the start of the offseason training program on April 16 and stayed for a week or so, but he has since returned to New Orleans to resume his rehab. From what I’m hearing, he still has a ways to go before he can get onto a football field and practice with NFL players.

Jones was a third-round pick out of LSU in the 2010 draft. He participated in rookie minicamp that spring but shortly afterwards was involved in a car accident in New Orleans that nearly cost him his life. Jones’ leg was mangled and doctors told him he might never walk again, nevermind play football. But Jones has been determined to return to the football field. He’s been running 40-yard dashes and was able to do some work with the Giants’ medical staff during his stay in the area last month.

"It definitely feels good breathing that New York Giants air,” he said of just being in the team’s locker room and seeing his teammates.

Jones is expected to be back in New York nect week to receive a Super Bowl with the rest of his teammates.