Daniel Jones is moving into a backup role, but he might be busier than ever once the real season starts.
The Giants are determined that the rookie quarterback continue to develop, even if he does not play at all behind starter Eli Manning. The plan set up by coach Pat Shurmur is this: Manning gets the bulk of the reps in practice, with Jones watching and learning via mental reps. Before and after practice and during the special teams periods, Jones works on the side, executing all the offensive plays he would need to run in a game.
“On his own time, under our direction, we get him as ready as we can,’’ Shurmur said Friday. “That’s just the way this works, and we’re confident that he’s put himself in position to go in and execute at a high level, so that’s really how that works. This is not new.’’
Jones led the NFL in the preseason with a passer rating of 137.3.
The Giants finished the preseason with 89 players and will have to pare their roster by 35 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday to get to the 53-man limit (receiver Golden Tate is suspended and thus does not count). Shurmur said he held a team meeting Friday morning.
“I will say, I appreciate everybody’s efforts,’’ he said. “I feel like we are starting to develop the type of team we can all be proud of, but we have a long way to go. This weekend’s process of trying to establish the first 53 will be very important.’’
A few injuries in the preseason-ending 31-29 victory over the Patriots will affect the roster maneuverings. TE Scott Simonson left the locker room at Gillette Stadium on crutches, with a boot on his left foot. WR T.J. Jones also was forced out with a lower leg issue. WR Alonzo Russell made an impression with two touchdown receptions, but he ended up catching only five of the 15 passes thrown his way in the game. He is a longshot to stick.
“This game was very important to me to showcase what I can do for the last, final time before cuts are made,’’ said Russell, a 6-foot-4 first-year player from Toledo.
Shurmur said he has spoken with Tate “at length a couple of times’’ about the plans for the next month, as Tate sits out a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Tate cannot have any contact with the team or walk inside the Giants’ facility until Week 5 of the regular season. Tate will have to work out on his own.
“We’ll just look forward to getting him back when we can,’’ Shurmur said.
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