Giants QB Daniel Jones cleared from concussion protocol, will start vs. Rams

NEW YORK — Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was cleared on Friday to start against the L.A. Rams on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Jones practiced in full Friday morning and was cleared from the concussion protocol in the afternoon by an independent neurologist.

That was the final step in his recovery from last weekend’s scary head injury against the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas.

The Giants (1-4) need a bounce back win against the Rams (4-1) after getting blown out 44-20 by their division rival Dallas.

Jones was knocked out of the Cowboys game in the second quarter when he went helmet to helmet with Dallas linebacker Jabril Cox on a goal line quarterback keeper. The Giants’ QB also hit his helmet hard on the turf.

He was wobbling on national TV when he stood up until someone finally tended to him. Then he was carted off, with teammate Kadarius Toney running over to get him a handshake and hug.

“That’s my brother. That’s my dog,” Toney said Friday. “If he’s hurt, I’m hurt. That really kind of made me go harder, just knowing that he wasn’t able to do what he’ll normally do, like contribute as much as he can, just put another chip on my shoulder.”

Fortunately, the third-year QB has recovered quickly.

He carried his pads onto Wednesday’s practice field, took snaps and did some sprinting. Then he practiced normally Thursday and Friday before getting final clearance entering the weekend.

“You saw Daniel come out here the other day in full pads and he wasn’t participating [in the team period],” Judge said. “He doesn’t want to do something different than the rest of the team. What we’ve had to explain to him is, there’s a time and a place for that and there’s also a time and a place to protect the team by sliding, getting out of bounds and making the right decision. That’s not always the easiest thing for a competitor to hear.”

Beating Matthew Stafford’s Rams wouldn’t be easy either way, but it would have been difficult to give Judge’s team any chance at all if Jones couldn’t go.

They’re already terribly shorthanded without Saquon Barkley (sprained left ankle) and wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hyperextended right knee), who both are expected to miss multiple games.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas (left foot, questionable) looks likely to miss a second straight game after laboring on the practice field.

Jones may have second-year tackle Matt Peart on the left guarding his blind side and veteran Nate Solder on the right facing Rams edge rusher Leonard Floyd.

On the bright side, wide receiver Sterling Shepard will be back after a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury. So will safety Jabrill Peppers, who missed the Dallas game with a hamstring, too.

And Toney (hamstring, questionable) is expected to play, although he may be sat down for the first series or two of the game, if Judge punishes him for the punch he threw in last week’s loss at Dallas. Darius Slayton (hamstring, questionable) also could be back, too.

But Jones is the lynchpin that holds it together and gives the Giants a real chance to compete against Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and the Rams’ defense.

Jones is completing 64.3% of his passes, averaging 256.4 passing yards and 39.4 rushing yards per game. He has four TD passes to one INT (on a Hail Mary) and two rushing TDs to one lost fumble through four and a half games.

How important is it to have Jones back?

“That’s pivotal in a lot of ways,” Toney said. “Daniel, he makes sure everybody’s prepared no matter if he’s playing or he’s not playing. Even when he was concussed, he came up to me right after [the loss at Dallas]. When I’d see him in the locker room, he’d say, ‘Hey, you good?’ or whatever situation it was, trying to always be that person that he’s always been, no matter if he’s able to be in the position or not.”

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said if Jones is healthy enough to play, they can’t tell him not to be aggressive in a similar goal line situation because Jones’ legs and toughness are huge assets to the Giants’ offense.

“Obviously sliding is important for quarterbacks,” Garrett said. “But when you’re in a situation like that when you’re right down by the goal line, you’re probably not going to slide and give yourself up unless you have no chance. He thought he had an opportunity to score. He’s proven that he can be a tough, competitive player and make some of those plays for us.”

Jones will have to strike a balance, though, between being tough and being available.

Other injury items

Linebacker Justin Hilliard (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve. He played 15 special teams snaps the last two weeks. He is the second Giants player in two weeks to go on I.R. with a late-week Achilles injury sustained in practice, following O-lineman Jonotthan Harrison last week. Hilliard got hurt on Thursday. … LG Ben Bredeson (left hand) is questionable after missing two straight games. Bredeson is wearing a wrap nearly the size of a hockey goalie’s waffle board on his hand, seemingly protecting his thumb and ring finger. It would be difficult for him to function with the hand at all, it seems. … LG Matt Skura (knee) and safety Nate Ebner (quad) were limited on Friday but not on the final injury report.