New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones showed up for training camp this week noticeably “jacked” — a term used for a person who is visibly muscular.
Jones worked out diligently all winter and spring, rehabbing from ACL surgery that ended his 2023 season after just six games.
There was no mention of Jones’ fitness when he met the media on Wednesday after the team’s second practice of camp.
“I expected to be here,” Jones told reporters this week. “I expected the process to go smoothly and well because we have good doctors, (athletic) trainers, and strength coaches and a clear plan from the get-go. It is definitely good to be here. I’m grateful to be out there and grateful to all the people who have helped me get to this point — still, a lot of work to do across the board. I will continue to rehab and focus on my knee, but also, from a football standpoint, getting back into 11-on-11 and playing football.”
The question being posed these days is not whether Jones is ready for the rigor of the upcoming NFL season but whether he’s too healthy, as in muscular?
On the recent edition of Scoop City hosted by NFL reporter Dianna Russini and joined by Super Bowl champion quarterback Chase Daniel, they discuss the issue which also includes San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy.
“I know Daniel Jones,” said Daniel. “He’s trying to bulk himself up because he’s a pretty good runner, too.”
Daniel then explained why being muscular at the quarterback position isn’t the most optimal when it comes to throwing the football.
“I think he’ll probably lose some muscle and weight during training camp as most guys do. I was more impressed with Brock Purdy. The dude looked almost like a bodybuilder,” Daniel said. “The only thing about being that jacked is. . . look at the best thrower in the National Football League — Patrick Mahomes. Dad-bod syndrome.
“I think there’s something to be said about that because when you are throwing, you have these huge muscles and you get a little bit impingement on your shoulder and not able to get the zip on the ball.
“Look at Tom Brady, his talks on pliability. You actually want to go all the way back and then all the way through, because when you’re throwing the ball, your arm can only go forward as fast as it can slow down so you want to work a lot of this backside shoulder cuff.
“So, I don’t believe in that. They look good but let’s see how it happens in the season.”
To be honest, Jones looks cut but not so muscular that it’s going to prevent him from throwing the football accurately. Thus far in camp, he’s been a bit rusty but has made some solid throws as he rounds back into football shape.
