Daniel Jones is in a walking boot with a "moderate" high ankle sprain, which means Eli Manning likely will start the Giants' Week 14 "Monday Night Football" game against the Eagles.
New York coach Pat Shurmur told reporters Wednesday that the rookie quarterback's ankle injury is "slightly less severe" than the one running back Saquon Barkley dealt with earlier this season. With the 2-10 Giants already eliminated from playoff contention, it's possible Manning could play for the rest of the season while Jones' ankle heals properly.
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Giants did not think Jones’ ankle was imported this badly.
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 4, 2019
The soreness got worse, he got an MRI and it revealed the high ankle sprain.
Manning, 38, was benched in favor of the 22-year-old Jones back in September after the Giants fell to 0-2 to start the 2019 season. The 16th-year QB through those two games had thrown for 556 yards with two scores and two picks.
As a rookie, Jones has thrown for 2,374 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while managing a completion percentage of 61.6 and a passer rating of 84.0 in 11 games this season.
Here's how Jones injured the ankle: 265-pound linebacker Preston Smith landed with all of his weight on Jones' right leg. This happened midway through the second quarter. Jones didn't miss a snap and finished the game pic.twitter.com/wGn6CvzZVC
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) December 4, 2019
Manning is in the final year of his contract with the Giants. If he is able to start in place of the injured Jones over the last three games of the season in addition to Monday night's game in Philadelphia, his performance won't have any impact on whether he returns to New York. (He won't.) But it could impact another franchise's potential decision to sign him as a veteran option in 2020.
After the Eagles game, the Giants are scheduled to play the Dolphins, Redskins and Eagles again to close the season.