NFL

Daniel Jones evasive on his Giants future as he vows to come back ‘stronger’ from season-ending injury

Daniel Jones isn’t thinking about what may be a precarious future with the Giants.

His entire focus is on getting his torn right ACL repaired, attacking rehabilitation like he would an opposing defense and doing everything possible to help his team in the meantime.

“The goal is to be ready and fully healthy as soon as possible,” he said Wednesday in his first public comments since suffering the season-ending injury in Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Raiders.

Jones hasn’t decided when he will get the operation or with which doctor — he is waiting for the swelling to go down.

He estimated it would happen in the next few weeks.

He chose not to address his future beyond that.

Asked about the possibility that the skidding Giants could opt to take a quarterback in the upcoming draft, he talked about focusing on the present.

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones speaks to reporters on Nov. 8, 2023. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

In speaking to coach Brian Daboll, they haven’t discussed anything beyond his rehabilitation, upcoming surgery and mental state.

“I think I’m focused on what I’m doing right now and trying to get my knee ready for the surgery and ready for the process to come back stronger,” he said. “So, in terms of my future, and what I’m thinking about it, it’s to attack this process and come back stronger, and a better football player in the future.”

Jones, 26, believes he suffered the injury on the final play of the first quarter when he felt his right knee “kind of buckle in a different way.”

He tried to play through the pain, but he recognized it was serious when the knee didn’t feel any better on the following play and gave out on him as he dropped back.

“So, I knew something was up at that point,” he said. “I had to go in and get checked out.”

One consolation is Jones said he didn’t suffer any additional damage to his knee, it’s just the ACL.

Daniel Jones tore his right ACL during the Giants’ loss to the Raiders on Nov. 5, 2023. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post

He also doesn’t need to get neck surgery. He missed three games with an injury to his neck.

He has already begun strengthening the knee with something called “prehab,” receiver Sterling Shepard told The Post, that can help in long-term recovery. Jones has been riding the exercise bike.

This obviously hasn’t been the season Jones or the Giants envisioned after their surprising run to the playoffs a year ago.

Jones cashed in after by far the best season of his career, signing a four-year, $160 million extension in March that included $82 million in guaranteed money.

But last year now feels like a decade ago, the Giants having lost seven of their nine games.

Jones missed three games with a neck injury, then tore his ACL in his return.

He also struggled when healthy, throwing six interceptions compared to just two touchdown passes.

The Giants went 1-5 in his six starts.

“You put a lot into the season. You put a lot into preparing to play and to get it taken from you through an injury is definitely tough,” Jones said. “That’s real and that’s something that you deal with as a player, but it’s part of the game at this level. At any level, really, it’s something that you have to deal with, and part of it.

“I understand that and it’s unfortunate, but I can’t afford to feel sorry for myself or sulk. It’s part of it, and I’ll be fine. I’ll bounce back, attack the rehab process like I have anything else and come back stronger.”

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