NFL Rumors: Daniel Jones requests release from Giants after being asked to ‘stay home’ | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, Daniel Jones requested his release after the New York Giants asked him to “stay home” following his benching prior to Week 11.

When Jones opted to remain with the team, the Giants “altered his training program” to limit the risk of his $23 million injury bond kicking in for the 2025 season, per Florio.

These changes included moving Jones to a safety role as a scout in practice, which prevented him from throwing and limited his lifting, Florio said.

Jones filed for release last Friday, four days after he was benched. He cleared waivers on Monday and signed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on Wednesday.

When head coach Brian Daboll confirmed that the Giants were benching Jones, a reporter asked him if Jones would go home “like Derek Carr.”

Carr, benched by the Las Vegas Raiders with two weeks left in the 2022 season, remained away from the team until he was released later that spring.

“I understand the question. No, he’s here,” Daboll responded, according to the team’s official transcript. ‘We had a conversation just before today’s meeting… These are not easy conversations. But he’s here.’

Daboll also told reporters that Jones would serve as the third-string quarterback behind Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock.

It quickly became clear that this was not the true structure of the Giants’ depth chart. When the team opened practice to reporters two days after Jones’ benching, The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll noted Jones doing individual reps behind DeVito, Lock and practice squad quarterback Tim Boyle while doing team drills.

The Giants were barred from keeping Jones out of practice facilities while he was still on a four-year, $160 million deal he signed ahead of the 2023 season.

As Florio noted, that precedent dates back to 2006, when the Tennessee Titans tried to keep quarterback Steve McNair from practicing to avoid having an injury guarantee written into his contract. An arbitrator ruled that the Titans should allow McNair to use their facilities as long as he was under contract with the team, according to ESPN.

What the team could do was sideline Jones and limit his practice opportunities. It appears Jones has decided that full participation on a playoff candidate’s practice squad would be preferable to the role the Giants were reportedly willing to limit him to in New York.