LAS VEGAS — Daniel Jones is running again.
The Giants quarterback told the Daily News Friday on Super Bowl Radio Row that he has started running on an anti-gravity treadmill at the team’s facility as he rehabilitates his surgically repaired right ACL.
“My rehab is going well,” Jones, 26, said as he strolled. “I’m making progress. I’m three months into it, and I’ve started running on the anti-gravity treadmill. It’s going well.”
Jones said he has been working with head athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes, director of rehabilitation Leigh Weiss and assistant athletic trainer Phil Buzzerio.
“It’s coming along well,” he said.
Jones has said before that he intends to be ready for training camp. GM Joe Schoen said at the Senior Bowl that “the expectation is for him to be the starter when he’s healthy going into camp.”
When Jones got hurt last season, the Giants started Tyrod Taylor. Then they put Tommy DeVito in when Taylor got hurt, and even played DeVito for two extra games when Taylor got healthy.
Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton told Jones on Friday, though, that the Giants actually tried to recruit Broncos quarterback Davis Webb back to play for them when Jones got hurt.
“When you got hurt this year, Davis got a call about, ‘Can you come back to play?’” Payton told Jones and Eli Manning on The Up And Adams Show. And I’m like, ‘Davis, you took this job, you’re coaching.’ And then there’s some rule in our league that if you sign a coaching contract for that year, you cannot play. Anyway, I thought I was gonna lose our quarterback coach to the Giants.”
Fast forward to 2024, and Jones faces pressure to perform in the second season of his four-year contract. The Giants can financially escape the deal after the season if they wish.
Schoen holds the No. 6 overall pick and two second-round picks in April’s NFL Draft and admitted the quarterback position is under consideration. He could sign a veteran behind Jones or draft a rookie to develop behind him as his successor or eventual replacement.
The GM also needs to improve the offensive line to give his quarterback the best chance to succeed while carrying a $47 million salary cap hit this coming season.
Jones has sustained two significant neck injuries during his career on top of the torn ACL, too. And he did not appear to be throwing the ball comfortably against the Raiders prior to hurting his knee. So there are lots of questions.
But it’s positive that his rehab has progressed to running, which puts him on track to be on the field to make a strong case.
