Injuries Galore Force Giants To Lean On Greg Jones
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Rookie middle linebacker Greg Jones has come a long way in a short time with the Giants.
And he's about to face his toughest test yet.
The sixth-round draft pick from Michigan State spent most of training camp working with the third-team defense. Following the final cuts over the weekend and a major knee injury to Jonathan Goff on Monday, Jones seemingly is now the starting middle linebacker for the season opener against the Washington Redskins Sunday.
Jones had a chance to work with the first team for the first time on Wednesday and enjoyed himself.
"It was cool just being out there," Jones said. "It is a different type of motivation. Everybody is so positive and nobody is saying: 'You're only a rookie.' Everybody is just saying you can do this, just believe in yourself."
Jones has no doubts that he can play the MIKE position. He left college as the Spartans' all-time leader in tackles for loss with 46 1/2, and was third all time in tackles with 465. He led the team or tied for team lead in tackles in 31 of his last 39 games.
However, he is taking over for Goff on short notice. Goff injured his right knee running into an offensive lineman in practice on Monday and the team didn't learn he had torn his ACL until Tuesday afternoon.
