The odds are once again stacked against the NY Giants this week, as they play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Already two-touchdown underdogs, the Giants will go to battle without quarterback Daniel Jones, who's still recovering from a neck injury suffered in the Week 5 loss against Miami.
Brian Daboll told reporters Friday that Jones won't play vs the Bills, which means Tyrod Taylor will start against his former team.
It never felt like Jones would suit up in Week 6. He didn't practice Wednesday and hadn't been cleared for contact as of Thursday.
Given the tricky nature of neck injuries -- and Jones' history with both neck injuries and concussions -- sitting the quarterback down is absolutely the right call by Big Blue. Jones' neck snapped back in gruesome fashion when he was sacked by Dolphins LB Andrew Van Ginkel in Week 5.
It would have been borderline franchise malpractice to have him start a week later.
Daniel Jones officially OUT Sunday per Daboll
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) October 13, 2023
NY Giants rule out Daniel Jones for Week 6, Tyrod Taylor to start at QB vs Bills
Credit to the Giants for protecting Jones from himself in this instance, though Daboll hasn't exactly done right by his quarterback in that regard this year. The head coach took some criticism for leaving Jones in late in New York's blowout losses against the Cowboys and Seahawks. In doing so, Daboll subjected Jones to some unnecessary hits and put the former No. 6 overall pick at risk of injury.
The Seahawks game in particular was tough to watch, as Jones was sacked 11 times behind a ravaged (and inept) offensive line.
Dany Dimes' toughness is well-documented, and you have to think he was pushing to play Sunday night. Instead, it'll be Tyrod Taylor, who gets a tough draw against his former team as the Giants also ruled out left tackle Andrew Thomas, rookie center John Michael Schmitz and tackle Matt Peart, along with pass rusher Azeez Ojulari.
An already daunting matchup just got a whole lot tougher for Big Blue. Fans may hope Taylor will ignite a spark into a toothless offense, but it's hard to envision the 34-year-old journeyman doing much damage behind what is far and away the worst offensive line in football, especially with Saquon Barkley's status still up in the air.