Daniel Jones confident he will be ready for Giants training camp: 'I think I'm in a good spot'
Daniel Jones speaks at a news conference on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Credit: Ed Murray
When asked Thursday if he believes he will be ready for training camp in July, Daniel Jones delivered a two-word message: "I do."
That represents considerable progress for the Giants quarterback, who is coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season in which he played in just six games because of a neck injury followed by a torn ACL.
“I think I’m in a good spot,” Jones said. “Obviously, the goal is to be ready to go by the first day of training camp. I’m going to push to be ready as soon as possible. I think we’ve got a good plan. I have a lot of trust and faith in our trainers and coaches.”
Jones, who had knee surgery in November, has advanced to doing individual drills and participating in 7-on-7s at Giants' OTAs. He has yet to take part in team drills. In what seems like a good sign, Jones said he did not wear a knee brace during the practice.
“He looks good,” coach Brian Daboll said. “We’re not putting him in some team stuff [yet] but he’s making progress. So that's why we got him in 7-on-7s. We’ll take it day by day and when he can do more, we'll put him in more.”
Jones seemed pleased with Thursday’s workload, saying his knee felt good.
All of this, of course, could have been very different if the Giants had drafted a quarterback last month.
Asked about that speculation, Jones said, “I mean, I wasn't fired up about it.”
Ultimately, Jones was thrilled when the Giants drafted LSU receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick.
“I’m fired up to get Malik,” Jones said. “I watched some of his tape in college. He's a dynamic, dynamic player. I was fired up to see that we got him. It's been fun getting to work with him.”
Nabers has been impressive in the early going when the media has been able to watch. His speed is impressive.
Jones knows there has been plenty of speculation about his job.
“What I can do is focus on myself and getting healthy, play the best football I can play, and that I know I'm capable of playing,” he said. “That's my job and that’s what I’m going to do.”
The Giants signed Drew Lock this offseason as Jones’ backup and still have Tommy DeVito, who went 3-3 as a starter last season.
Lock’s passes were not particularly accurate on Thursday.
Asked if he has a lot to prove, Jones said, “I always feel like I have a lot to prove. I'm motivated, I’m doing everything I can to be ready to go.”A next step for Jones could include team drills. The Giants, who might believe that time is now on their side in terms of Jones being ready to start the regular season, will not push.
"His movement skills have been good. It’s not a contact camp, we all know that, so we try to eliminate as much of that as we can," Daboll said. "But that will be the next step of being involved in the pocket and things like that. When that is, I'm not sure.”
During drills, Jones looked smooth in his rollouts and appeared to be moving well. Of course, there was no chance he would be touched, let alone sacked, by the defense.
Asked if there is “more of a risk” in 11 vs. 11, Daboll said yes.
That’s a risk, right now, that the Giants aren’t willing to take. And, in May, they don’t have to.
Notes & quotes: Tight end Darren Waller continues to mull retirement, according to Daboll . . . Wide receiver Darius Slayton has not taken part in the offseason. “I’ve spoken to Slay," Daboll said. "Again, this is voluntary. If he wants to be here, great. If there’s anyone that doesn’t want to be here, that’s their choice, that’s why it’s voluntary . . . I would say whenever they decide, they decide. Darius is obviously under contract, so, again, whenever it comes up, we’ll deal with it then.” . . . Daboll said the Giants will hold joint practices during training camp with the Detroit Lions and probably the Jets. In 2023, they practiced and then played their first preseason game in Detroit. This year, they host the Lions in the preseason opener. Daboll said the Giants will probably practice with the Jets for one day in camp and in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
