The New York Giants are faced with a dilemma in week 6. With Daniel Jones sustaining a concussion in the team’s week 5 loss in Dallas, some of the discourse leading up to week 6 has turned to the subject of whether or not Jones should start.
That is to say, not everyone agrees with starting Jones even if the doctors clear him to play.
The doctors, in this case, are the ones who hold the final decision on whether the Giants can field Jones. For a player to leave the concussion protocol, the NFL requires an independent neurologist to clear them. The Giants haven’t yet said if Jones is starting, and that’s because the matter isn’t in the hands of the coaching staff.
However, a report from NorthJersey.com claims that Jones is more likely to start than sit.
“It’s likely Daniel will be the starter,” an individual with knowledge of the situation told NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network. The individual was granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation… “There are still hurdles to be cleared, but that’s where everyone hopes it’s headed.”
The arguments around playing Jones in week 6
Some want to see Jones sit this game out after his concussion in week 5. That sentiment is backed up by experiences from previous seasons where the Giants brought back an injured Saquon Barkley as well as Jones himself too soon, only for both players to flop in their respective returns.
With that being said, this situation isn’t exactly like either of those. When it comes to concussions, the process of bringing a player back involves more than just the team’s trainers. It’s unlikely that the league’s doctors will approve Jones to play if symptoms are still present.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine the coaching staff choosing to sit Jones if the independent doctor gives him the go-ahead.
While the Giants are 1-4 and being counted out by many at this point in the season, the coaches and players certainly aren’t thinking of things that way.
The Giants need all the wins they can get as they enter this tough stretch of the schedule, and getting an upset win against the Rams on Sunday would take off some of the pressure going into a November that features road games in Kansas City and Tampa Bay.
If Jones is cleared, expect the coaches to play him rather than assuming the season is already over and taking the minimal risk option instead.