A pair of NFL starting quarterbacks won’t take the field with their teams this weekend: New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and Cleveland’s DeShaun Watson will both sit out.
Jones was injured on a sack last week while playing the Miami Dolphins (Giants QB Daniel Jones out vs. Bills with neck injury), and Watson, whose team had an open date last week, injured his shoulder weeks back (Browns rule QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) out vs. 49ers).
In Watson’s case, the Browns (2-2) are hosting the undefeated bull-of-the-woods San Francisco 49ers (5-0) at noon Central time on Sunday. P.J. Walker will take Watson’s place as the Browns’ starter. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will back up Walker.
Watson didn’t play two weeks ago in the Browns’ 28-3 loss to Baltimore (Thompson-Robinson started that one). Coach Kevin Stefanski said again this week that Watson has no tears, and just needs time to heal.
“Any injury … you have to be able to do your job, you have to be able to function and do all the things that are asked of you to play your position. A quarterback, when you have this type of injury, you have to make sure you’re able to drive the football, make all the throws,” Stefanski said.
At least one other Browns’ offensive starter is out: left guard Joe Bitonio won’t play (knee), and tight end David Njoku was injured away from football (trying to light a fire pit), and is questionable.
The Giants (1-4), meanwhile, were already without starting running back Saquon Barkley, and now they won’t have Jones, either.
Jones was sacked six times in a 31-16 loss at Miami last week, and suffered a neck injury on the sixth one. Tyrod Taylor, it’s reported, will start in place of Jones.
Jones had an MRI this week, but neither coach Brian Daboll nor Jones talked about the results. Jones has had problems with a disc injury before (in the 2021 season), in which he missed six games.
“It feels different. It’s not the same injury,” Jones said.
The Giants also have a myriad (a bunch) of problems up front, along the offensive line.
Center John Michael Schmitz has been ruled out with a shoulder injury; left tackle Andrew Thomas is out with a hamstring injury; another tackle, Matt Peart, is out (shoulder); and right tackle Evan Neal is questionable with an ankle injury. Tight end Darren Waller is also listed as questionable.
The Giants brought back former lineman Justin Pugh this week, and may need to bring up one or more players off the practice squad to help field a capable offensive line.
On defense, Azeez Oljulari, a linebacker, is out (ankle), as well.
