Transcript: Quarterback Daniel Jones

Quarterback Daniel Jones

Q: What are you looking to accomplish in this preseason game?

DANIEL JONES: For one, it's the first time out in the game situation, live situation. So, you want the operation to be clean, in and out of the huddle at the line of scrimmage, communicating with the guys and making sure we're ready to go. And then obviously you expect a high level of execution. I think we want to take what we've practiced, what we've prepared and put it on the field. It won't be perfect, but we expect it to be good. So, I think we're ready to go.

Q: You didn't even mention testing your knee there in a game environment. Does that come into your thinking at all? Do you want to take a hit to some degree? Do you want to be able to run the ball at some point?

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I don't think I'll be thinking about my knee much. I think I've tested it. I've tested it in practice, tested it in my rehab and workouts and feel like it's in a good place. So, yeah, I'm confident my knee will be ready to go. It won't be something I'm thinking about much.

Q: You went through joint practices; you've been out here every day. What in the game situation will be different for you that you of want to check in your head that, 'okay, I got through that'?

DANIEL JONES: Well, I think it's a little bit faster, I think is one thing. And the pass rush is real. They can hit you in the game. So just feeling that, sensing that, but I think that just comes down to getting the ball out on time, moving well in the pocket. All the things you work on in a practice situation get tested in a game when you can get hit.

Q: How did (wide receiver Malik Nabers) Leek look to you?

DANIEL JONES: He looked good. So, yeah, I think he's feeling good and yeah, looked good today.

Q: Do you have to go possibly longer than you might want in a first outing with (quarterback) Drew (Lock) kind of on the table? (Quarterback) Tommy (DeVito) gets three quarters or something?

DANIEL JONES: I'm ready to go. I'm ready to play as much as (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs wants me to play. So, I don't know. That's probably a better question for him and kind of how he's seeing the whole situation. But I'm ready to play and looking forward to getting out there.

Q: What does it mean for you to be able to get back at this point, you're here for the second preseason game? You're playing for the first time in a game situation since your injury.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, it was always kind of the plan and expected to be here. So, what it means I don't know. I'm excited about it. I'm ready for it and expected to be ready for it.

Q: Sometimes running backs, they say, 'I need you to get that first hit, that first tackle to the ground'. Obviously, you're not looking to be sacked. You mentioned the live rush, you know you're wearing a red jersey in practice. They're not supposed to touch you. Do you think that will be another milestone you need to get through if you get jostled around pretty good in the game?

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I'm not seeing it differently than I would any other year. I think with the first hit of the season and playing again after time off. Maybe I've had a little bit longer time off than in a normal situation. But as far as my knee or any of that, I'm not too concerned about that first hit. But like any preseason or like any first contact of the year, I think that kind of makes you feel like football again.

Q: I guess you wouldn't mind if it doesn't come also?

DANIEL JONES: I wouldn't mind. Yeah, I'm certainly not trying to get hit. (Laughs).

Q: Do you have to wear anything different, neck-wise after the two neck injuries?

DANIEL JONES: There's no concern with the neck. My neck is 100 percent good.

Q: It's been hard for you guys in practice to have the offensive line where so many guys are moving in and out. How do you guys handle that?

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think they've done a good job handling it. We've been nicked up a little bit through camp. And you want to get as much time with the group to build chemistry and playing with the people that are going to be out there. But everyone's done a good job stepping in and playing well. And we've got a lot of guys who've played a lot of games, a lot of good veterans in that group.

Q: You just mentioned it the experience up front. Is that something you can sense early on when you start working with this group that these guys have seen a lot? You're not dealing with younger players. It's not to say the younger players can't play, but there's something about having that experience that they kind of need.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think having some veterans in that room, some guys who've played in the league for a long time is important. And it helps me, helps the younger players in the room. It helps everybody. Yeah, so I think that's important to have those guys. And I'm excited about the guys we brought in and how they've played.

Q: You mentioned you've spoken to some teammates about coming back from a torn ACL. So, I'm curious, have you talked to any quarterbacks specifically and what's it like coming back from that injury?

DANIEL JONES: I haven't, no. But I've talked to other guys. I think it's just about feeling good. And like I said, I've tested it, done everything I feel like I've needed to do in practice or rehab situation and ready to go.

Q: Is this a much different offense with Malik as the central figure and focus versus a running back in the past being your top offensive weapon?

DANIEL JONES: We're still working through exactly what our offense is going to major in, what we're best at, what we're not as good at. I think that's what training camp is for largely. Yeah, Malik's going to be a big part of what we do for sure. And he's shown up through camp, made a ton of big plays for us. And he's going to help us out a ton. So, how the offense looks and how it presents itself on Sundays, I think depends on who we're playing and kind of what the game plan calls for. But we have a lot of confidence in Malik and all our wide receivers and our running backs. I think we've got a talented group.

Q: Is getting back on the field exciting or is it just another game?

DANIEL JONES: No, it's exciting. I'll be excited to be out there again and just going through the game routine, the pregame, getting out there, playing in front of a crowd. I think all that's exciting. So, I'm looking forward to doing that again.

Q: People want to know, keeping the beard?

DANIEL JONES: I don't know. Yeah, I've gotten a lot of questions about the beard. It's not a new me, but we'll see. We'll see what happens.

Q: How about your mom? What does your mother think?

DANIEL JONES: She's alright, I think.