New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones faced a setback in his season when he experienced pain in his right knee on November 5, realizing his season was over. Jones, 26, decided to undergo surgery for his torn ACL on Thanksgiving after the swelling subsided and he received approval from doctors, choosing not to delay the procedure despite the holiday.
Jones, who typically faces a nine-month recovery for such an injury, is optimistic about returning for Week 1 and training camp. He emphasized taking his recovery one step at a time and focusing on the present, indicating he is making good progress without any major setbacks nearly three months into rehab.
Jones recently mentioned he is running on an anti-gravity treadmill, a positive sign for his recovery as training camp approaches in late July, which would mark eight months post-surgery. Past NFL quarterbacks’ return-to-practice timelines after ACL tears, such as Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, and Ryan Tannehill, suggest Jones could be back practicing sometime this summer.
Jones’s recovery has been aided by the standard nature of his ACL tear, without significant additional damage, according to his post-surgery assessment. However, there are concerns about his return to running the football, a significant aspect of his game, with former Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer suggesting it could take a full calendar year for Jones to regain full mobility.
Despite Jones’s progress, the Giants are preparing for all possibilities, with General Manager Joe Schoen acknowledging the need for a backup plan in case Jones is not ready for Week 1. The team currently has Jones, Tommy DeVito, and an expected free agent, Tyrod Taylor, under contract for next season, but they may explore adding a quarterback from the draft to ensure they have options for the upcoming season.
Jones’s recovery is progressing well, and while there are uncertainties about his return to full form, all indications suggest he will be prepared for the upcoming season.
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