The New York Giants endured a tough blow in their 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders as their quarterback, Daniel Jones, left the game in the first half due to a noncontact knee injury, potentially ending his season.
Initial reports suggest that Jones may have sustained a torn ACL in his right knee. A scheduled MRI on Monday will provide a clearer picture of the extent of the injury, but there is concern that this could be a long-term setback. This injury comes as a cruel twist of fate for Jones, who was making his return after missing three previous games due to a neck injury.
Coach Brian Daboll expressed the disappointment, saying, “Tough. You never want your guys to go down. He’s worked really hard to get back. It’s unfortunate.”
Jones underwent an X-ray at Allegiant Stadium, which yielded negative results. However, the full diagnosis will rely on further tests, including the MRI in New York.
In the locker room after the game, Jones was seen walking without crutches but with a noticeable limp, a visible sign of the challenging situation he faces.
Running back Saquon Barkley offered his support, saying, “I’m not going to jump the gun or anything. I’m not going to sit here and speak for [Jones]. You don’t know until you get an MRI. Pray for him. He knows I got his back no matter what. We got his back no matter what. … You never know until you have to get an MRI.”
The concerning aspect of the injury is that it happened without any contact. Jones’ knee gave way during a sack in the first quarter, signaling potential trouble.
Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh, who has also faced an ACL injury, commented on the situation, saying, “That’s not a good sign. You never want to put the cart before the horse. Let’s get an MRI. Let’s get pictures of it. I was in his shoes a year ago, but let’s just hope everything is all right.”
Jones attempted to continue playing after the injury but fell to the ground untouched during a dropback in the second quarter, clutching his knee. He eventually left the field under his own power, heading to the X-ray room at Allegiant Stadium.
Coach Daboll explained, “He felt like he buckled. And then he was running it off. We went over and talked to him, and he said, ‘Nah, I’m good.’ Then went back in, and obviously he wasn’t.”
Tommy DeVito stepped in for Jones, and the undrafted rookie delivered a mixed performance, completing 15 of 20 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions.
This season has been a challenging one for Jones and the Giants, especially considering his recent four-year, $160 million contract. In the six games he’s played this season, Jones has recorded two touchdown passes and six interceptions.
With Jones’ injury, the Giants find themselves in a precarious situation as they are already without backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who was placed on injured reserve due to a rib cage injury. DeVito and veteran Matt Barkley are the only healthy quarterbacks on the roster, making it likely that the team will seek another quarterback given Jones’s anticipated extended absence.
This injury is another devastating blow in a season filled with challenges for the Giants.