Giants’ QB Daniel Jones is trending towards playing in the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Packers in London.
Jones suffered a left ankle sprain late in the third quarter of New York’s Week 5 win over Chicago. He missed two series before returning to the game with a taped up ankle and a noticeable limp.
It was a lackluster passing day for Jones, as finished with eight completions for just 71 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. On the ground, he was much more productive, tallying 68 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
Following the win, Jones underwent testing that determined he was dealing with a Grade 1 ankle sprain. He practiced both Wednesday and Thursday in a limited capacity, but is making significant progress and expects to play on Sunday.
“I’ve been working with the trainers, and I’ve made a lot of progress the last couple of days. So, I’ll continue to listen to them and continue to do what I can to be back out there,” Jones said after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s early in the week, so I’m just trying to do everything that I can day-by-day to get back there. I’m feeling good.”
The Giants currently employ the league’s premiere rushing offense – they average 192.5 rushing yards per game – and Jones’ mobility is a key part of that success. He has 18 rushing first downs and is the team’s second leading rusher behind Saquon Barkley.
If Jones is limited by the sprain, Green Bay’s defense – they allow the 10th most rushing yards per game (126.8) – would only have to focus on stopping Barkley.
“I’m confident in my ability to throw from the pocket, throw outside the pocket, and make plays from both,” said Jones about his potentially limited skillset.
Our algorithm predicts Jones is still four days away from Optimal Recovery, which puts him in line to start on Sunday. His Injury Risk is High (22%) and his Health Performance Factor is Below Average (46%), which means his almost certainly going to be less mobile.