Giants Country

Joe Schoen Says QB Daniel Jones Will Be the Starter Once Healthy

The Giants general manager opened up on various topics, including the future of the team's quarterback position.

Patricia Traina

Joe Schoen Says QB Daniel Jones Will Be the Starter Once Healthy
Joe Schoen Says QB Daniel Jones Will Be the Starter Once Healthy /
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New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen didn't want to look too deeply into his crystal ball regarding the franchise's future, but one thing he did reveal is something that might not make some fans very happy.

Schoen, speaking to the Giants media for about a half hour on Monday, said the team's expectation is for Daniel Jones, who is currently on injured reserve after suffering an ACL tear, to be the starting quarterback once healthy.

“We don’t have a crystal ball in terms of how the rehab is going to go, and different patients respond differently to these surgeries, whether there is going to be swelling in the knee or any setbacks. Nobody has a crystal ball on this, but that’s the expectation moving forward," Shoen said.

Joens underwent surgery last Wednesday to repair his ACL, and Schoen marveled over how the quarterback was already trying to move around without crutches. Jones's rehab could take anywhere from eight to ten months, the longer end of the scale potentially jeopardizes Jones's tart to the 2024 season.

That said, Schoen admitted that the team isn't going to necessarily rest on its laurels at quarterback. He cited that Tyrod Taylor will be an unrestricted free agent, and in mentioning that they'll have to address the position, he hinted that Taylor isn't in the future plans.

“I think we’re going to have to do something at quarterback, whether it’s free agency or the draft, just where we are,’’ Schoen said. “Tyrod’s contract is up, DeVito is obviously under contract, and Daniel, we don’t know when he will be ready. Just from an offseason program standpoint, that will be a position we will have to look at and address at some point.’’

That new quarterback, Schoen said, could come via free agency or the draft, of which Schoen said, “We’ll take the best player available. If the best player available for our team is at a certain position, we’ll take it. I mean, we won’t shy away from it."

Schoen believes that while Jones had his rough moments when he was starting because he proved that he could win last year and get the team to the playoffs, the former Duke star deserves the benefit of the doubt.

“I’ve seen it," Schoen said. "I mean, you guys all saw last season. The guy won 10 games; he won a road playoff game for the Giants,” Schoen said. “I just think. We got punched in the nose early on, dug ourselves a hole, and couldn’t get out of it. We’re trying to right now, but still believe in Daniel.”

For as well as Jones might have played last year, and in the one lone preseason series against a struggling Carolina team, Jones has struggled to recapture his prowess. A large part of that has been injuries, but that said, good quarterbacks usually find a way to overcome adversity.

With Jones at the helm this year, the Giants went 1-5 in his six starts. He also saw his passer rating drop from 92.5 to 70.5, his interceptions percentage rise from 1.1 to 3.8, and his per completion hit a career-low 8.4 per attempt.

Despite all that, Jones, who cannot be cut next year anyway due to the effects of his cap hit on the Giants salary cap, received the best endorsement possible given where things currently stand. 

“Does Daniel wish he could have some throws back or some games back or do some things differently? Probably, but it’s a team game," Schoen said. "There’s 11 guys out there, and everybody’s gotta be on the same page and do their job. We’ve gotta continue to build the team. The quarterback position is important, but it’s ultimately a team game, and it’s not all on Daniel by any means."

 

 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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