New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had such a rough outing in Week 1 that even an opposing player couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for him.
In their season opener, the Giants were thoroughly outmatched, falling 28-6 to the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. Jones, who was expected to take a leap forward after signing a massive contract extension, struggled throughout the game. He completed just 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards, threw two interceptions, and failed to lead the offense to a single touchdown. As the game slipped away, boos from frustrated Giants fans started raining down from the stands.
Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was part of the defense that stifled Jones, reflected on the atmosphere during a Tuesday interview on KFAN’s “Power Trip Morning Show.” He admitted that as the game wore on, he actually began to feel sorry for the embattled quarterback.
“We heard the boos, and that’s when we knew things were going our way,” Greenard said, via SNY’s John Flanigan. “At one point, it got so loud, it felt like they were cheering as if their defense was on third down, but it was boos for their own team. It was tough to watch, and I started to feel bad for him. We were just shutting down everything he tried to do. But, you know, it’s our job to be on the other side of it.”
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For Giants fans, hearing that an opposing player felt sympathy for their franchise quarterback in the very first game of the season was a bitter pill to swallow. To make matters worse, head coach Brian Daboll faced uncomfortable questions after the game about whether or not he’d consider benching Jones—a scenario that no one in the Giants organization would have imagined just months ago.
Jones entered the season with high expectations after signing a four-year, $160 million extension in the offseason, which guarantees him $35.5 million for 2024. However, his Week 1 performance raised immediate concerns about whether the Giants made the right investment.
A stat that went viral after the game highlighted just how poorly Jones has played in key situations, casting doubt on his ability to live up to the lofty contract.
If Jones continues to struggle the way he did against Minnesota, pressure will mount on Daboll to explore other options at quarterback. Drew Lock, currently the backup, could see his name come up in discussions if Jones doesn’t turn things around soon.
For now, the Giants are committed to their signal-caller, but the clock is ticking for him to prove that he’s worth the significant investment the team made in him.
