MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Once again, the Giants have to be concerned about another neck injury for Daniel Jones, who has taken a beating this season and now might have to miss time because of that beating he takes week in and week out.
Injury was added to insult early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 31-16 loss to the Dolphins when outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel came from behind, beating overmatched fill-in left tackle Josh Ezeudu with frightening ease, and sacked Jones so violently that the 26-year old quarterback walked off the field and never returned.
He suffered a neck injury and that is disturbing news for a player who missed the final six games of the 2021 season with a neck issue that Jones back then said required a “procedure” to fix.
“I feel fine,” Jones said, almost by reflex, before adding, “I’m in some pain, physical game, meet with the doctors and trainers and go from there. It’s just my neck, my neck’s sore.”
Is this neck discomfort the same as he felt in 2021?
“Yeah, it’s tough to say for sure,” Jones said. “I’ve certainly dealt with a similar issue.”
Jones said he had an X-ray taken after the game but would only report: “We’re looking at it.”
An MRI exam will likely provide the answers to whether or not he has to miss time.
The Giants will err on the side of caution with a player who has anything wrong with his neck.
“Got hit pretty good,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s been getting hit quite a bit.”
Jones has been sacked 28 times this season — only Sam Howell of the Commanders, with 29 sacks, has been dropped more often.
“Yeah, you don’t want that,” Daboll said. “Affecting the quarterback plays an important role in the game, and we got to figure out a way to protect him better.”
Jones was under constant pressure.
He completed 14 of 20 passes for only 119 yards and ran four times for 24 yards.
He did not turn the ball over.
Once, on a scramble, he was leveled by cornerback Eli Apple near the Giants’ sideline.
In the past two weeks, Jones has been sacked 16 times.
“I think we’ve played some physical games against some physical defenses,” Jones said. “I think we all probably feel it, it’s football, it’s part of the game.”
Asked how concerned he is with his neck issue, Jones said, “It’s tough to say right now. I’m not gonna get wrapped up in that kind of stuff at this point.”