Wednesday Media Transcript: QB Daniel Jones

QB Daniel Jones -- December 4, 2019

Q: You expressed on Monday that you’d be confident that you’d be able to play. What happened since then?
A: I guess just the MRI and looking into it, I think, yeah. Obviously, I want to be out there and we’ll see how it heals, but yeah, I think just the MRI.

Q: Did you sense something was wrong other than just soreness after going in the tent?
A: Yeah, it hurt. I mean, I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know if it would keep me from playing or not. But, yeah.

Q: Was that the reason why you went in the blue medical tent, or did you get hurt again later on in the game?
A: That was it right there on that drive when it happened. I kind of knew right when it happened.

Q: How difficult is it to play through the high ankle sprain? They can be pretty tricky and horrible to play through.
A: It was all right. I mean, it wasn’t the same. I felt it, but it was all right, something I could manage.

Q: How disappointing is this?
A: It’s pretty disappointing, especially after thinking I was going to be able to play. Meanwhile, I understand it, I guess, and hopefully it’ll heal up pretty quick.

Q: What are the chances you come back in the next three or four weeks?
A: I think they’re good. I think every day since, I’ve been feeling better and I think it should heal up pretty quickly.

Q: Do you still think there is a chance to play Monday night, or have you pretty much been told no.
A: I think right now I’m going to take it day by day and see how it feels and do the best I can to heal as quickly as I can. So, we’ll see.

Q: Sometimes when quarterbacks get hurt, especially young quarterbacks, you have to take a step back and see things differently. It happened last year with (Sam) Darnold, he was able to kind of see things from the bench. Do you kind of anticipate that you’ll be looking to learn things not playing and maybe get a different perspective?
A: Yeah, I guess it’s an opportunity to do that. Obviously, you want to be playing, and I feel like the best way to learn is to play, but there is an opportunity in learning, watching, and yeah, I’ll try to do the best I can to do that.

Q: You’ve played through worse injuries than this. Is it tough to hear the news that you can’t play through this one?
A: Yeah, I mean, it’s disappointing. You want to play, everyone wants to play. I certainly won’t play, but I do understand it and it’s my job to get healthy as quick as I can.

Q: Do you have an appreciation for—you know, Eli (Manning) never had to miss a game because of injury over like 15 years almost—do you kind of have an appreciation for how incredible that streak is?
A: Yeah, I mean, I think so. I obviously have a ton of respect for him for a lot of different reasons, but yeah, that’s one of them.

Q: Saquon (Barkley) had a similar injury. I believe yours is not as severe. Have you checked with him yet at all about dealing with a high ankle sprain?
A: Yeah, I’ve talked to him a little bit in terms of severity. I’m not sure, but we play different positions and are asked to different things, so I think I’ll be able to recover pretty quickly.

Q: Have you thought about getting a second opinion from an outside doctor, or have they told you to get a second opinion?
A: I think the doctors I’ve seen here have been helpful and I’m confident in what I’ve heard here. I think, like I’ve said, I have the opportunity to heal up pretty quickly, so I look forward to doing it.

Q: What was Saquon’s advice on how to deal with high ankle sprains?
A: Obviously, he took his time to recover and it feels better now, he doesn’t have any issues with it now. So, I think just to listen to the trainers and to listen to the doctors and make sure I’m doing everything I can to recover as quickly as I can.

Q: What were Eli’s last eight weeks like in the meeting room for you guys? Was he doing the same things for you that you were doing for him like the first two weeks, or is it different, he’s been there, done that?
A: It’s a little different. I mean, I think what he can help me with is a lot different from what I can help him with. Just trying to help him out and if he doesn’t have time to watch a certain game or doesn’t have time to look at something, maybe I can do it, whereas he’s watching a lot of things with me and trying to take me through a lot of different things. So, I think that’s a little bit different role, but I did the best I can to help out.

Q: When was the last time you hurt your ankle this badly, and how did you handle it?
A: I had a high ankle last year at Duke and it was on the other leg. I was able to play through it. So, it takes time to heal, but I’m confident I’ll be able to heal.

Q: You missed a game or two at Duke though last year, right? What was that?
A: That was a collarbone. I broke my collarbone.

Q: So, if you played through a high ankle sprain, this one must be worse. Does it feel worse?
A: Yeah, I mean, it’s tough to tell a year from now, but I’m confident I’ll heal pretty quickly and be back out there soon.