Daboll: Jones will be Giants starter when he returns

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll isn't sure Daniel Jones will be ready for Week 1, but he confirmed the quarterback will be the starter once he's healthy.

The Giants signed former second-round pick Drew Lock this offseason, and John Schneider - the general manager of Lock's former team, the Seattle Seahawks - said the NFC East club sold Lock on a chance to start.

However, Daboll ruled that out.

"We're excited to have Drew, and he knows what his role is going to be," Daboll said, according to Coral Smith of NFL.com. "He's going to get a lot of reps this spring, he needs to learn our system, but again, excited to get Daniel back. When he gets back, he'll be the guy."

A torn ACL ended a miserable 2023 campaign for Jones, who signed a four-year, $160-million extension last offseason. He threw just two touchdowns to six interceptions in six starts.

The Giants also lost star running back Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency this offseason.

"I've got a tremendous amount of respect for Saquon and all the players that went on to other places. It's a special group when you're going through an NFL season, you've got to go through ups and downs," Daboll added. "(I) wish him all the best, except when he is playing the Giants."

Daboll was named the 2022 Coach of the Year after leading the Giants to the playoffs, but the franchise struggled to replicate that form last season, finishing the year with a 6-11 record.