One-time MVP discusses potential QB controversy in New York

Former NFL quarterback, one-time Most Valuable Player and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason thought for a time on Sunday that the New York Giants could have a quarterback controversy on their hands involving starter Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor. 

Esiason sounded more unsure about the matter after he watched Taylor and the New York offense produce zero points in the second half of what became a 14-7 home win over the Washington Commanders.

"I would just say, Tyrod Taylor, the last two games, looks like he’s reasonably stable, and at halftime, Tyrod Taylor was in the midst of having a really good game," Esiason explained during Monday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "Tyrod Taylor was good. They actually had some life on offense…Tyrod looked really good. I was thinking to myself at halftime, we got ourselves a quarterback controversy. And then…100 yards in the second half and not much." 

Jones missed the final six games of the 2021 season because of a neck injury and was a spectator for the past two contests because of a different neck-related setback he suffered in the Week 5 loss at the Miami Dolphins. Taylor committed a woeful mistake at the end of the first half of the Week 6 defeat against the Buffalo Bills and more recently completed 18-of-29 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns against Washington. 

According to ESPN stats, Jones began Monday ranked 27th in the NFL among qualified players with a 39.7 adjusted QBR on the campaign, and he recorded two touchdown passes with six interceptions before his injury. Taylor is responsible for a 49.9 adjusted QBR and has two touchdown passes and no picks this season. 

It's worth noting the Giants had no quarterback controversy as of Monday because Jones hasn't been cleared for contact since Oct. 8. Per the Giants' website, head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Monday he had no update on Jones' health. 

The 2-5 Giants next "host" a 3-3 New York Jets side this Sunday that is coming off its bye and that had its defense guide it to an impressive 20-14 home victory over the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 15. Esiason suggested Taylor could start for the Giants against the Jets if only to ensure Jones is fully healthy for the second half of the season. 

Takes about the Giants' quarterback situation will mean little, however, until Jones is cleared to do more than throw footballs on practice fields during midweek sessions. It was reported last week that the 26-year-old could realistically remain inactive through this coming weekend, in part because of his injury history. 

As of Monday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Giants as three-point underdogs against the Jets.