Giants optimistic QB Daniel Jones can play vs. Cowboys in Week 15?

The strained neck suffered by New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones at some point in November that made him a spectator last weekend and has him out of action ahead of Sunday's game at the Los Angeles Chargers generated plenty of headlines this week. 

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post wrote Wednesday Jones first suffered "some structural damage" to the neck in the "Monday Night Football" loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 22, but head coach Joe Judge denied that claim Thursday and insisted the 2019 first-round draft pick encountered the issue during the win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 28. Schwartz has since corrected his piece and now echoes Judge's comments, which suggests the earlier article contained either a typo or misinformation. 

What's known for sure as of Thursday night is that Jones hasn't been cleared for contact and that rumors continue to hint the 24-year-old won't play again this season because, in Schwartz's words, "he could do further damage to the neck" against a live defense. Per Newsday's Tom Rock, though, Judge and company remain optimistic Jones can be back in the lineup as soon as next week ahead of a home matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 19. 

The Giants are in a tough spot in that they can't justify risking Jones' long-term health over the next five weeks but desperately need to continue evaluations of the signal-caller ahead of making an offseason decision about the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract. Big Blue was recently linked with Seattle Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson in a new trade rumor and could decline Jones' option to go big-game hunting over the winter and spring months while knowing that Jones is, at worst, under contract through the 2022 campaign.