Giants’ Daniel Jones: ‘My Mental Toughness is in a Good Spot’ amid Week 1 Criticism

Julia StumbaughSeptember 11, 2024

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones says he is not worried about his “mental toughness” after Sunday’s 28-6 season-opening loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

“I feel like I’ve been doubted plenty, for a long time, and I’ve dealt with that time and time again, and done a good job with it,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday.

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

New York Post Sports @nypostsports”I’ve been doubted plenty for a long time, and I’ve dealt with that time and time again and done a good job with it.”

Daniel Jones is asked about his mental toughness: pic.twitter.com/e05ENJlPuV

Jones was booed by Giants fans at MetLife Stadium after throwing two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, in the loss.

Jones went 22-of-42 on Sunday for 186 yards and no touchdowns.

The season-opening loss followed a disappointing 2023 campaign for Jones, who played in just six games in a season limited by a neck injury and a torn ACL.

The pressure is on Jones more than ever as he enters the second year of the four-year, $160 million deal he inked with the Giants in 2023.

Jones has made seven starts since signing that deal. In those appearances the Giants have a 1-7 record, while the sixth-year quarterback has thrown for two touchdowns and eight interceptions over the span. Three of those interceptions have been returned for touchdowns.

Although Giants head coach Brian Daboll said benching Jones was “not in my mind” after the loss to the Vikings, continuing to start him is risky given the $23 million in injury guarantees he holds for the 2025 season.

Jones headed into the 2024 campaign knowing that his starting position in New York was anything but guaranteed, despite his contract.

The behind-the-scene glimpses of the team’s offseason provided by HBO’s Hard Knocks showed that Giants general manager Joe Schoen considered moving up in the draft in order to select a quarterback, specifically Patriots rookie Drake Maye, despite the three years remaining on Jones’ deal.

Jones told Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com (h/t USA Today’s John Fennelly) that he was “very motivated” by seeing the Giants consider his possible replacement.

“Definitely didn’t enjoy watching that and it was a tough situation in a lot of ways, but that’s the reality of the NFL,” Jones told Dunne.

It seems Jones is taking a similarly even-keeled approach to his upcoming Week 2 start on the road against the Washington Commanders this Sunday.