Daniel Jones will not have Darren Waller to play this season after the tight end retired this offseason.
The Giants quarterback, however, has Waller’s support.
Waller expects Jones to recover from the torn ACL that ended his 2023 season. He threw two touchdowns and six interceptions in six games before going on injured reserve.
“I’m just excited for him to get another opportunity,” Waller said recently on SiriusXM NFL Radio, via NFL.com. “I feel like he has a bad reputation. [In] 2022, man, [he] He played such good football. Last year was his first opportunity to go out and play with the new bag he got. It was hard for us as an offense to protect him, and you can’t put any quarterback out there and not have any protection and expect them to really thrive in the pocket.
“[I’m] hoping they can reinforce those things and allow him the opportunity to show what a talented guy he is. He’s very athletic, I’d like to have the opportunity to play the football he played in 2022. I feel like that’s definitely still in him.
Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension after throwing for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for 708 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
But Jones took 30 sacks in six games last season and missed time with a neck injury before the knee injury prematurely ended his season.
He won’t have Waller or running back Saquon Barkley, who left for the Eagles as a free agent.
The Giants drafted receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick and signed offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan and Aaron Stinnie.
Regardless, there’s no getting around the fact that this is an important year for Jones.
“I know he’s motivated and excited to come back, excited to lead,” Waller said. “That’s when you learn more about guys, responding to opportunities like this.”
