Jones Remains Confident Amidst Giants' Struggles

Few quarterbacks are under more pressure this season than New York Giants signal caller Daniel Jones. Frankly, his Week 1 performance against the Minnesota Vikings made it seem like he succumbed to that pressure.

In the 28-6 loss in front of the home fans, Jones turned the ball over twice and was sacked five times. With every passing attempt, the trust of the fan base grew slimmer, and by the time fans were leaving early, Jones’ next week was set for him.

Headlines, talk radio rants, social media criticism – par for the course for any struggling quarterback. In the sport’s biggest market, the noise is even louder.

With fans calling for his job and the writing on the wall for his long-term standing in the Big Apple, Jones isn’t having an enviable week. Make no mistake, Jones is aware of what’s being said.

“I feel like I've been doubted plenty for a long time and dealt with that time and time again and done a good job with it,” Jones said on Wednesday . “I think my mental toughness is in a good spot and I'm not concerned about that.”

Having thick skin is a prerequisite for playing quarterback. In New York, of course, that’s magnified. The Giants were embarrassed, at home, by a quarterback exorcizing the ghosts of MetLife Stadium. Given the high-profile offseason additions and the celebratory nature of the opener, Jones will bear the brunt of a fan base that’s frustrated, embarrassed, and tired of staring down the same fate it has in all but one of Jones’ seasons.

Fortunately, the quarterback has the supporting cast, both on and off the field, to deal with the wave of criticism headed his way.

“I've said a number of times I'm concerned about the people in this building, and I think I've got plenty of help, plenty of good coaching, plenty of good teammates to work with here,” Jones said. “That's what I'm focused on. I've got people I trust, who I have relationships with, who can help me out. But in terms of other people and what they have to say or what they think from their perspective and what their observations are, it's really not very important to me.”

Jones would finish the day completing 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. New York will have to wait for Week 2 to find the end zone.

Related: Little Giants: Jones Gets Vikings' Sympathy After Loss

He’ll get his opportunity to get his season back on track in Landover against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

“Fans – they're upset and frustrated, and we're frustrated too,” he said. “I understand that. I'm not easily offended. I understand how it works and know I've got to play better, we've all got to play better.”