By standard of winning, Giants QB Daniel Jones has improved dramatically

Will Daniel Jones be a Giant in 2023 and beyond?

There still is plenty of smart money betting on “no.” But week by week, he at least is making the decision more difficult for the team’s brain trust.

The fourth-year quarterback has shown toughness in overcoming an ankle sprain, resourcefulness in getting by with a decimated receiving corps and leadership in helping the team to an unlikely 4-1 start.

So, coach Brian Daboll, how much did Jones’ performance in Sunday’s upset of the Packers improve his stock?

“I just look at it from how it's been since we've been here with OTAs and the things he's done to get better,” Daboll said before practice on Wednesday. “I've said it ad nauseam: He works as hard as he can. He comes in and he's does a great job with the players around him, of leading them or helping them with the offense.

“Each week I think you get a little bit more comfortable. Again, we're five weeks into live competition. So I think you learn a lot about players, not just Daniel but everybody. And he's done a good job for us.”

Jones’ numbers are not eye-popping: He has completed 88 of 132 passes for 848 yards and three touchdowns and been intercepted twice.

Crucially, he also is second on the team in rushing with 41 carries for 230 yards – a 5.6-yard average – and two touchdowns.

But by the standard that matters most for quarterback, which is winning, Jones has improved dramatically. He did not do much of it at Duke or early in this NFL career, but he now is 7-3 in his last 10 starts.

There are only three quarterbacks who have been better than that, at 8-2, in their last 10 regular-season and playoff starts: Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa.

Jones is one of six who are 7-3, including Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

Jones chuckled when someone asked after practice about his play helping with his contract status, simply saying, “It’s certainly not my focus.”

What about just proving himself in the face of doubters?

“I don’t think it was ever really my focus to prove people one way or the other,” he said. “My focus was to play as well as I thought I could play and put the team in position to win.

“That doesn’t change for me. Each week you try to get better.”

Does he think he has gotten better? “I think I’m improving week to week,” he said. “So that’s been my goal.”

Since getting the job, Daboll consistently has praised Jones, with variations on the same themes. And Jones keeps justifying that confidence.

After Sunday’s victory, the coach said, “Players have got a lot of respect for him and I know the coaches do, too. We have confidence in him.

“He's done a really good job for our football team and the things that we have asked him to do, he's done them well. I'm glad he's our quarterback.”

General manager Joe Schoen and Daboll will show how glad they really are when it is time for contract talk.

The Giants declined to pick up Jones’ fifth-year option, which would have cost them $22.4 million this season. Unless he gets a franchise tag, he will be a free agent in 2023.

If the market value for Jones, 25, ends up being modest, the Giants in theory could keep him while also exploring other options.

There are a lot of moving parts to the decision, and at least 12 games left before they have to make it. But it already is more interesting than many thought it would be a month ago.

Notes & quotes: Daboll said P Jamie Gillan was en route back from England after resolving a passport issue that had kept the native of Scotland in the United Kingdom since Sunday’s game. K Graham Gano and LS Casey Kreiter kiddingly wore “Free Jamie” T-shirts in the locker room . . . WRs Kenny Golladay (knee) and Kadarius Toney (hamstring) did not practice. WR Wan’Dale Robinson was limited . . . QB Tyrod Taylor (concussion) practiced but was limited, as was RB Saquon Barkley (shoulder) . . . Former heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder visited the Giants facility in advance of his fight Saturday against Robert Helenius at Barclays Center. Wilder said he used to play receiver. Hmm.

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.