Giants QB Daniel Jones: 'My mental toughness is in a good spot'
Daniel Jones of the Giants looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Daniel Jones had a bad day at the office on Sunday, to say the least.
On Wednesday, Jones reflected on that performance, including a message for doubters.
“I feel like I've been doubted plenty for a long time and dealt with that time and time again and done a good job with it,” Jones said. “I think my mental toughness is in a good spot, and I'm not concerned about that.”
There are other concerns.
Jones was 22 for 42 against the Vikings on Sunday. He was sacked five times. He threw two interceptions.
His passer rating was 44.3. By comparison, Sam Darnold had a passer rating of 113.2.
“Definitely some things to clean up and do better,” Jones said at his locker.
Jones played his first game since Week 9 of last season, when he tore his ACL against the Raiders in Las Vegas.
“I think just seeing [what is before me] and trusting it, being decisive and going. I think [there were] certain decisions here and there where I could have done a better job. Each play you try to take something from and learn something and then apply that to this week of practice and improve it.”
The Giants' offense never got on track Sunday. Coach Brian Daboll said “mental toughness and mindset” are key to getting over that disappointment.
This is certain: The hits are going to keep coming.
“I think in the NFL, there's good pass rushers and defense is schemed up to affect the quarterback,” Jones said. “Part of my job is being able to deal with that, move, find the space. When there's pressure in my face, stand in and deliver it. I feel like I've done that throughout my career and continuing to work on that and improve that.”
One of Jones’ better qualities is that he never passes the buck. He takes blame, whether it is fully his fault or not.
That is a quality of a good teammate.
“I've said a number of times I'm concerned about the people in this building, and I think I’ve got plenty of help, plenty of good coaching, plenty of good teammates to work with here,” Jones said. “That's what I'm focused on. I've got people I trust, who I have relationships with, who can help me out. But in terms of other people and what they have to say or what they think from their perspective and what their observations are, it’s really not very important to me.”
Jones said in reviewing the game with Daboll, they went through it play by play.
“It's specific to what happened and where the correction needs to be,” Jones said. “I think footwork-wise, finding opportunities when they're there and delivering the ball accurately. But a lot of things I talked about improving were points of emphasis after watching the film.”
Asked if some of the fans went overboard — three appeared to heckle Jones as he walked to his car after Sunday’s game — Jones said he understood.
“They're upset and frustrated, and we're frustrated too," Jones said. "I understand that. I'm not easily offended. I understand how it works and know I’ve got to play better, we’ve all got to play better.”
Notes and quotes
Asked how to get Malik Nabers more involved with the passing game, Daboll said: Throw him the ball . . . OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux said he was disappointed with the defense on Sunday, beginning with the “mindset.” He added: “I say that because we started off hot, and then as things started to unravel, it got to us. Obviously, just being human, it's easy to get down on yourself when things aren't going well. But just continuing to battle, and regardless of the score, just keep putting our identity on tape. Thibodeaux recorded one QB hit in the game . . . In advance of the first practice focused on the game against the Commanders in Landover, Daboll said wide receiver Gunner Olszewski (groin), wide receiver Darius Slayton (concussion), inside linebacker Darius Muasau (knee) and cornerback Nick McCloud did not practice.
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.
