Giants’ Jones ‘playing to win games,’ not starting job

After a poor showing in the New York Giants’ season-opening 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Daniel Jones is already fielding questions about his role as the starting quarterback.

“I’m playing to win games. I’m playing to lead the team to score points and win games,” Jones said when asked if he believes he’s playing for his job against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. “And that’s always been my focus. I know I can do that. I’ve just got to do it well.”

Jones’ first regular-season game since sustaining an ACL injury last year didn’t go as planned. The 27-year-old completed 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

Giants fans showered Jones with boos that even led to players from the Vikings feeling sympathetic for the opposing team’s struggling QB.

Jones said he’s mentally tough enough to overcome a disappointing outing based on previous experience.

“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. I think my mental toughness is in a good spot, and I’m not concerned about that,” Jones said.

Head coach Brian Daboll dismissed the notion of making a change at quarterback after Jones’ rough Week 1 outing.

“We’re going to evaluate everything. That’s not in my mind,” Daboll said.

Jones’ teammates came to his defense, sharing that the embattled passer still has support within the locker room.

“We all have full belief and faith in DJ. I’m not worried about him at all,” wide receiver Jalin Hyatt said, per SNY’s John Flanigan. “It’s one week. We all forget that he’s coming off of an ACL injury, so it’s his first time in action. But we know he’ll get better, and we’ll get better for him.”

The Duke product signed a four-year, $160-million extension in May 2023. Jones has appeared in 61 career games but owns a 22-37-1 record since New York selected him sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.