It’s not controversial to say that New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones’ sophomore campaign has not gone according to plans. Jones has battled inconsistency, injury, and turnover issues all year long in his second year in the NFL. He has shown flashes, but much as he did as a rookie, they have been very few and far between in what has been a mediocre sophomore season.
Sunday’s Game for the Giants Could Be a Tremendous Moment for Quarterback Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones Has Not Taken the Leap Many Expected of Him
In 13 games this year, Jones has passed for just 2,714 yards and only nine touchdowns, while also throwing nine interceptions. He has a 62.2 completion percentage and has also rushed for 406 yards on 56 carries (7.3 YPC) with one touchdown on the ground.
This comes after Jones passed for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns as a rookie while throwing 12 interceptions. As a rookie, he had a 61.9 completion percentage and rushed for 279 yards on 45 carries (6.2 YPC) with two touchdowns scored.
Stats don’t lie. The stats portray a story of a quarterback who has clearly regressed. While Jones has improved in some areas, it is not the growth you want to see out of your franchise quarterback.
It’s not the trajectory you want to see in a quarterback going from his rookie year to his second year in the league.
A Big Moment Awaits Jones in a Chance for Redemption
All that said, Jones has a watershed moment staring directly at him this Sunday. If the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and then later if the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Football Team, then the Giants win the NFC East.
Yeah, I know, it’s hard to believe.
Still, a major opportunity awaits Jones, and that’s all Jones can ask for right now. He has the chance to make amends real fast and end his sophomore campaign on a high note.
Jones will have to look better than he has for most of the season, especially in his last two games played. Now, his hamstring and ankle injuries have played a part in his poor play. However, only Jones can answer for his meddling performances of late and fix what has been ailing him.
Jones, Riddled by Injuries, is Struggling Down the Stretch
In his last two full games against the Arizona Cardinals and the Baltimore Ravens, Jones has passed for a combined 379 yards and just one touchdown thrown. Even worse, he has rushed for three yards on one carry in that time.
Again, the injuries can not be written off, as they have clearly had an adverse effect on Jones’ ability to run the ball. Running the ball is a major strength of Jones, and right now, he can’t use that weapon as part of his arsenal.
Hopefully, Jones can get healthy and diversify his game. But even if he has to depend on his ability to throw the ball, he can still salvage his season. Even though his season, marred by major issues, Jones can still go out on a high note.
This is a game that will tell us a lot about Jones’s development and character. If Jones can rally the Giants past Dallas and then get in the playoffs, it could be a monumental confidence builder Jones so desperately needs.
For Jones, he at least has the comfort in knowing his coach, Joe Judge, has his back. Judge was unequivocal in his support of Jones.
More from the New York Post:
“You always want to know about ‘Is Daniel our guy? Are we going forward with Daniel?’ The answer is absolutely,” Judge said.
“What gives us that confidence is even in games like [Sunday] where it didn’t come out perfectly … you watch the tape and you see that guy in there operating, executing, understanding the pressure — and not just standing in there with courage like he’s done all along and taking a hit, but understanding how to take the hit and deliver an accurate pass and move the sticks down the field.”
Final Thoughts on the Future of Quarterback Daniel Jones
Sunday’s game will all come down to how Jones responds to the big moment. He can be the hero or the goat. After the Giants invested a high-draft pick on Jones, in just one fell swoop he can validate the Giants belief in him on Sunday.
After all, this is what the Giants drafted Jones for. They made him the face of the franchise for moments like these.
It’s time to see if Jones can rise to the occasion and deliver when it matters the most.
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