Daniel Jones ‘feeling a lot better’ at practice as Giants’ optimism grows

The demise of Daniel Jones may have been slightly exaggerated.

The Giants quarterback situation doesn’t appear to be as dire as it looked just four days ago as they prepare for this week’s trip to London to play the Packers.

In Sunday’s 20-12 win over the Bears at MetLife Stadium, the Giants played more than half of the fourth quarter essentially without a quarterback after Jones sprained his left ankle and backup Tyrod Taylor suffered a concussion.

After Taylor was knocked out of the game, Jones returned to the field, hobbled by his ankle that was heavily taped, and handed the ball off for the rest of the game.

Based on how Jones looked during the early portion of Wednesday’s practice that was open to reporters — doing individual and position drills — he appeared to be a player who’ll be playing on Sunday. Jones dropped back, rolled out, threw the ball and never looked like he was laboring.

“I didn’t even see him limping,’’ center Jon Feliciano said. “I made a little crack at him when I saw him make some drop-backs and throw the ball before practice and I said, ‘Oh, you’re fine.’ ’’

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said he’s “not surprised’’ to see Jones shaking off the injury.

“He’s a pretty tough individual,’’ Daboll said. “I think he’s made a lot of progress since after the game and has been in the treatment room consistently throughout these last couple of days.’’

Daboll wasn’t ready to declare Jones ready to start Sunday against the Packers, preferring to see how the ankle reacts and recovers from the practices. “We’ll put him out there, get him some reps and see where he’s at,’’ he said.

Jones said he “felt good out there’’ in practice.

“I’ve been working with the trainers and I’ve made a lot of progress the last couple of days,’’ he said. “I’ll continue to listen to them and continue to do what I can to be back out there. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling a lot better today.’’

Jones was listed officially as a “limited’’ participant in practice because he was “in and out’’ of team drills “a little bit at some times.’’

He acknowledged to being “pretty sore after the game,’’ and was careful not to make any firm declarations about his status for the Packers game.

“Sunday is a little bit away,’’ Jones said. “I’ll continue to progress throughout the week and see how I feel. I’m confident in my ability to throw from the pocket, throw outside the pocket, and make plays from both.’’

Although Taylor, who remains in concussion protocol, didn’t practice on Wednesday, Daboll refused to rule him out for Sunday. “Too soon to say,’’ he said.

If Taylor doesn’t make the trip, the Giants will sign veteran Davis Webb off the practice squad to the regular roster as the backup. Though they have yet to make that roster move, this is the most likely scenario.

The team brought two free-agent quarterbacks (Jake Fromm and A.J. McCarron) in for workouts on Tuesday, but are not expected to sign either.

As for the 27-year-old Webb, who’s been in the league since 2017 when the Giants drafted him in the third round, he’s played in only one NFL game — two kneel-downs for the Bills last season in mop-up duty at the end of a 45-17 win over the Jets — and has never thrown an NFL pass.

He is, however, very familiar with Daboll’s offensive system, having been with him in Buffalo.

Webb, in fact, is so cerebral that his plans whenever he finishes as a player are to coach. The Bills offered him a position as their quarterbacks coach last offseason, but he opted to sign back with the Giants and Daboll.

On Wednesday, Daboll professed his trust in Webb.

“Davis has been with me for a while, so he knows our stuff,’’ Daboll said. “I have a lot of confidence in Davis. He hasn’t played a full game in the regular season, but I’ve been around him for four years, I’ve watched him compete, I’ve watched how he prepares, I watch how he leads. If he is afforded this opportunity, he’ll be ready. I’m happy he’s here.’’

So, too, is Webb.

“That’s why I wanted to keep playing too, and not coach,’’ Webb said, referring to situations like this week. “You do want to play, but Daniel’s the starting quarterback here and Tyrod’s the backup. I’m going to continue to work to get an opportunity.’’

Like Daboll, Webb wasn’t surprised to see how quickly Jones has progressed since his ankle injury on Sunday.

“He’s a tough guy,’’ Webb said. “He works hard at it. This is the most important thing in his life, and he’s been that way since the day I met him. You can rally around a leader like that.’’