While his NFL team has been trying to engineer fourth-quarter comebacks, New York Giants centre Brett Jones has been studying engineering in Regina. The 24-year-old Weyburn product was put on injured reserve by the Giants after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the team’s pre-season game Sept. 3. After making that transaction, the Giants allowed the former University of Regina Rams star to return to the Queen City to get treatment – and to continue his studies.
“I like coming back to the U of R, but I didn’t really want to come back to go to school this semester,” Jones said Tuesday. “(Sitting out) has been pretty disappointing, but it’s part of the game.
“I’ve been fortunate enough my whole career that I’ve never really had an injury. I’m unhappy I don’t get to play, but I’m happy the injury is kind of the best of the worst when you hurt your knee.”
Jones signed as a free agent with the Giants in February after two standout seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. The 6-foot-2, 318-pounder was named the CFL’s most outstanding rookie in 2013 and its most outstanding offensive lineman in 2014.
After learning the NFL game during a nine-week stint at the Giants’ training facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey, from April to June, Jones was invited to New York’s training camp.
He was holding his own in camp, but his tryout ended when he damaged his knee in the Giants’ pre-season contest against the New England Patriots.
“I’m fortunate,” Jones said. “It easily could have been an (anterior cruciate ligament) or something like that where major surgery is needed.
“You don’t really have much choice because of the way the ACL works. The MCL gets lots of blood and can usually heal on its own, so most of the time, you don’t need surgery.”
Jones occasionally returns to the Giants’ facility to meet with the team’s doctors, who have told him the ligament is healing well. He initially was told he’d be out for four to six weeks – and his next doctor’s appointment is set for six weeks after the injury occurred. But Jones isn’t sure what to expect after that visit.
If he was still in the CFL, he could have returned to the field after a stint on the six-game injured list. But because the Giants didn’t put Jones on the IR/designated to return list, he can’t play for them this season.
As a result, he doesn’t know what’s in store in the coming weeks. The Giants could leave him on IR for the rest of the season and welcome him back in 2016, or they could release him.
“I don’t make those decisions; I’m just on IR,” Jones said. “I’m just responsible for trying to get as healthy as possible as fast as possible.”
And if he is released by the Giants?
“We’ ll see where the health of my knee is at that point,” Jones replied. “If I feel comfortable trying to play again this year, I might try to play for another team in the NFL. But more than likely I’ll just wait until January and see what my options are then.”
Those options could include a return to the CFL, where teams would line up to throw cash at the twotime award winner.
But other NFL teams were interested in Jones before he signed with the Giants, so he could remain in that league – especially after getting some exposure during the pre-season.
“A lot of things have to line up for you to make an NFL team,” Jones said. “I think I had a good camp, but you never know what might have happened (if he hadn’t been injured).
“I’m just happy I was able to get my opportunity and I think, if given the right opportunity, that I would be able to play in the NFL.
“Hopefully, I’ll be fortunate enough to get another opportunity and continue to show I can play there. If not, we’ll see what happens.”
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