Daniel Jones was lined up as a scout-team safety for the Giants defense at the start of Thursday’s practice.
A few days after the $160 million quarterback was demoted from starter to the third- or fourth-stringer, Jones went through individual passing drills paired up with practice-squad quarterback Tim Boyle.
When that period was over, Jones slipped on a red pinnie and joined the scout-team defense during an offensive install period.
It’s not unusual for offensive players who are not playing Sunday to lend a hand at a walking/jogging pace in that situation, but it is unusual for a $160 million investment to be reduced to that role.
There is an awkward dynamic to practice right now because the Giants do not want to risk Jones getting injured. There is a $23 million injury guarantee in his contract that will activate if he cannot pass a physical by March 12, which would raise the dead-salary-cap charge for cutting Jones from $22.2 million to $45.2 million.
So, Jones actually was fourth up — behind new starter Tommy DeVito, veteran backup Drew Lock and Boyle — during Wednesday’s drills. Head coach Brian Daboll said that rep order was not indicative of a depth chart.
“Those guys are handing off,” Daboll said.
Jones addressed the media for the first time since his benching after practice.
Lock is running the scout-team offense as the No. 2 quarterback. He surprisingly was bypassed for the former third-stringer DeVito when Jones was benched.