Source: Giants 'very optimistic' Daniel Jones will be able to play next week vs. Cardinals

Daniel Jones wasn’t able to make it back from his hamstring injury in time for the Giants game in Seattle on Sunday. But the team is “very optimistic” he’ll be ready for their game next Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to a source.

The 23-year-old Jones progressed much faster in his rehabilitation than the Giants expected this week, according to the source, and came closer to playing against the Seahawks than they thought he would. It still wasn’t particularly close because the Giants always planned to be cautious with him so they wouldn’t lose him for multiple weeks. That’s why they proceeded all week as if they were going to go with backup Colt McCoy.

But Jones’ recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered last week against the Cincinnati Bengals was definitely encouraging, especially when he was able to return to practice on a “limited” basis on Friday. The next test for him, the source said, will be to see how he feels early this week and how much he’s able to practice on Wednesday.

If he’s able to make it through most of the practice, the Giants will likely proceed as if he’ll be starting against the Cardinals.

However, the source did caution that hamstrings are tricky injuries and setbacks are common. There is also the unknown of how Jones will do after back-to-back six-hour flights, to and from Seattle, after head coach Joe Judge allowed him to make the trip. But they wouldn’t have let him make that trip if they were worried.

So all of the signs point towards a quick return for Jones, which is what the Giants were hoping for all along.