Daniel Jones’ ‘devastating’ injury puts career at crossroads, but may offer Giants clarity

LAS VEGAS — Daniel Jones made his way through the visitor’s locker room at Allegiant Stadium as briskly as his injured right knee would allow on Sunday afternoon. Jones’ right leg was rigid, with an immobilizing brace visible through his sweatpants.

A New York Giants public relations official intercepted an approaching group of reporters and said Jones wasn’t taking any questions. There really was nothing that needed to be said.

“For him to come back from what he was just coming back from, and to have that injury today, I just couldn’t think of a worst-case scenario for a guy,” left guard Justin Pugh said. “That’s just devastating. I hurt for him. It’s a guy you respect and you know puts everything into the game. It just hurts.”

The scene in a dejected locker room told the story. This was about far more than the 30-6 drubbing administered by the Las Vegas Raiders that dropped the Giants’ record to 2-7. The mood was made more somber by the knowledge Jones had just suffered a significant injury.

Though players tried to avoid jumping to conclusions, it was obvious they were expecting the worst when Jones undergoes further examination on Monday. A team source told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini the fear is that Jones tore his ACL.

It was a particularly cruel twist for Jones to suffer a significant injury in his first game back from a three-week absence from a neck injury. That neck injury — his second in three years — called Jones’ future into question. Adding a major knee injury into the equation could actually bring clarity.

With veteran backup Tyrod Taylor on injured reserve for at least three more games with a rib cage injury, the Giants are careening toward a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They’re currently slated to pick fourth, and it’s hard to imagine the team winning many games behind undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito or journeyman backup Matt Barkley, who was signed to the practice squad last week and hasn’t thrown a pass in a game since 2020.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen’s scouting itinerary this fall already indicated that he has been keeping an eye on the top college quarterbacks despite signing Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract in March. Schoen has attended two USC games in the past three weeks, which has granted him an up-close view of potential No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Schoen also scouted the other potential top pick, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, in September. And he scouted the No. 3 quarterback in this class, Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, in October.

Now, there were loads of other NFL Draft prospects in those games. But Schoen can only attend one or two college games each weekend. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that his schedule has been full of top quarterbacks, especially as the Giants season has devolved into an unfathomable mess.

The low point came on Sunday. There was optimism that Jones’ return, along with All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas, who had missed seven games with a hamstring injury, could help the Giants salvage the second half of the season.