NFL Rumors: Daniel Jones Requested Giants Release After Being Asked to 'Stay Home'

Daniel Jones requested his release after the New York Giants asked him to "stay home" following his benching ahead of Week 11, according to NBC Sports' Mike Florio.

When Jones chose instead to stay with the team, the Giants "altered his workout program" in order to limit the risk of triggering his $23 million injury guarantee for the 2025 season, per Florio.

These alterations included holding Jones to a scout safety role in practice, stopping him from throwing and limiting his lifting, according to Florio.

Jones requested and was granted a 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 the Giants were benching Jones, one reporter asked him if Jones would go home "like Derek Carr."

Carr, benched by the Las Vegas Raiders with two weeks remaining in the 2022 season, stayed 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 talk right before the meeting today... Those aren't easy conversations. But he's here."

Daboll also told reporters that Jones would be serving as a third-string quarterback behind Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock.

It quickly became apparent that 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 that Jones was taking individual reps behind DeVito, Lock and practice squad quarterback Tim Boyle while sitting out team drills.

The Giants were not allowed to keep Jones from practice facilities while he was still on the four-year, $160 million deal he signed ahead of the 2023 season.

As noted by Florio, that precedent dates back to 2006, when the Tennessee Titans attempted to stop quarterback Steve McNair from practicing in order to avoid triggering an injury guarantee in his contract. An arbitrator ruled the Titans had to allow McNair to use their facilities as long as he was on contract with the team, per ESPN.

What the team could do was sideline Jones and limit his ability to practice. It looks like Jones decided that participating fully on the practice squad of a playoff contender would be preferable to the role the Giants were reportedly prepared to limit him to in New York.