It looks like the Giants will have Jason Garrett feeding Daniel Jones’ tracks with their season on the line.
One week after reserve offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and backup defender Colt McCoy teamed up to score six points in a loss to Browns, Garrett and Jones are expected to return to their usual roles Sunday against the Ravens. except for possible countermeasures.
Jones was first in rehearsals during training on Thursday and moved into his pocket in exercises without the visible lameness he had previously shown.
“I think some of the moves I made last week with him, although it was kind of hard for him to stay with double injuries, which helped solve some of these situations,” said coach Joe Judge. “All the feedback I’ve received from a medical point of view is that he’s continued to improve and he’s at a lower risk of being injured.”
The Giants increased the intensity of training for Jones from Wednesday – when Judge was “very encouraged” by the way his defender moved – until Thursday, when the plan was for him to “jump straight into his normal role and move forward”. They will return to the field on Friday as part of a short three-hour day to make room for family Christmas time.
“If he can play, we intend to play him,” the judge said. “I succeeded [Wednesday’s] exercise the feeling that we are on the right track “
Garrett has been in quarantine since giving positive results to COVID-19 on December 16th. Because he attended all the Zoom meetings even in the absence of practice, the judge feels comfortable handing them over to Garrett on Sunday.
It is unclear whether Garrett will step out of NFL protocol to travel with the team on Saturday or whether he will have to travel alone and join the team on game day.
“We are still waiting for a few points of clarity,” said the judge, “but we expect to have him at the game, playing games and being on the sidelines. Jason did a very good job of adjusting the way he had to work, staying connected with the players, staying connected with the coaching staff. Freddie did a great job of driving everything to training. “
Even full-strength Giants will have their hands full of Ravens. It is the crime no. 31 against the defense of the score no. 4 – and the Giants (5-9) are eliminated from the playoffs with a loss and a victory in Washington against the Panthers.
“For a variety of reasons, we need to finish the drives better,” the judge said. “It simply came to our notice then [to the red zone] we have to come up with points. It is not something we overlook internally. “
Asked if the giants need Santa to bring more Christmas insults, the Kitchens said best: “If you know him and want to have him send us something about everything you were talking about, please feel free. That, Elf on the shelf, Mrs. Clause. Anything.”