Daniel Jones injures neck, Giants can't contain De'Von Achane and Tyreek Hill in loss to Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Giants lost to the Dolphins, 31-16, on Sunday in south Florida. They also might have lost their quarterback.

With 12:45 to play in the game, Daniel Jones was injured on a sack by Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel.

It was the 16th sack of Jones this week. He was sacked 10 times by the Seahawks on Monday night.

That is untenable.

“You don’t want that,” said Brian Daboll, whose team is the only one in the NFL that has not had an offensive snap with a lead this season. “The quarterback plays an important role on the team and we have to find a way to protect him.”

Jones left the game Sunday with 12:11 to play and the Giants trailing 31-13. He did not return. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor replaced him.

“I feel fine,” Jones said after the game. “I’m certainly in some pain. Physical game.”

This is not Jones’ first neck issue. He had a season-ending neck injury in 2021, which he referenced on Sunday by saying that he’s dealt with similar issues in the past.

Jones said he had X-rays at Hard Rock Stadium and will undergo further testing, including an MRI, on Monday.

Asked about the play in which Jones was injured, Daboll said, “Got hit pretty good. He’s been getting hit quite a bit.”

As to what happened on the play, Jones said he wasn’t sure.

“I just know,” he said, “that my neck is sore.”

He added: “I know we’ve played some physical games against physical defenses. I think we all probably feel it. That’s football, that’s part of the game. I’m feeling fine.”

Whether he actually is fine could be known after the tests Monday.

Jones was 14-for-20 for 119 yards when he left the game, one in which the Giants did not score an offensive touchdown.

The only Giant to find the end zone was safety Jason Pinnock, who intercepted Tua Tagovailoa and returned it 102 yards for a touchdown to bring them within 14-10 with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter.

The Giants’ other points came on three field goals by kicker Graham Gano.

The Giants’ issues, aside from the possibility of losing their quarterback for any period of time, include — once again — the offensive line. It has failed to protect Jones properly. And yes, this is a recurring issue within the organization.

The injured hamstring that has left tackle Andrew Thomas unable to play since the season opener looms large. Saquon Barkley’s absence after a Week 2 ankle sprain does as well.

“Overall, we’ve got to do a better job offensively,” Daboll said. “It’s tough for us to overcome those negative plays right now.”

It’s possible that Justin Pugh, signed this past week to the Giants practice squad, could be ready to help soon. Pugh, 33, appeared to be in great shape when he walked through the locker room last week.

“You take a look at everything after games,” Daboll said. “We’ll see where he’s at this week. Whether he’s up or he’s not up, I couldn’t give you that answer right now.”

But is it too late?

With a trip to Buffalo looming next Sunday night, can the Giants save their season?

Yes, the Dolphins have the speed to make many teams look bad, but there were plays against the Dolphins that any onlooker would recognize as noncompetitive.

That the offensive line again is an issue for the Giants likely will sound alarms from every bit of the fan base. Even before Jones’ injury, the Giants struggled to move the ball.

The Dolphins led 17-10 at halftime. Miami running back De’Von Achane had a 76-yard touchdown run in the first half and finished with 151 rushing yards on 11 carries. But the Giants still were in the game, thanks to Pinnock.

That changed quickly early in the third quarter.

After an incompletion by Tagovailoa, he hit Cedrick Wilson for six yards. On third down came the dagger, with Tagovailoa finding Tyreek Hill, who used his speed and got loose for a 69-yard touchdown.

Just like that, Miami had extended its lead to 24-10.

The Dolphins’ final score came on a 2-yard run by Raheem Mostert.

Miami didn’t approach the 70 points they scored against the Broncos on Sept. 24, but the Dolphins largely had their way on this day. They had 524 yards of offense, 501 of those through the first three quarters. They had three plays of at least 60 yards and seven of at least 20 yards.

By Kimberly Jones

kimberly.jones@newsday.comkimjonessports

Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.