Giants' Shurmur praises Jones, challenges those who doubted pick

It's safe to say New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has impressed his head coach through three preseason games.

Following Thursday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Pat Shurmur praised Jones' poise and toughness while challenging those who disputed drafting the former Duke passer.

"That's what we thought he was when we drafted him," Shurmur told reporters, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. "It's fun, about every six or seven days I've been able to tell you, 'That's what we saw when we drafted him.' He just has a feel for playing the position. He's steadily getting better every time he takes the field.

"Like I said, you can ask me all you want about why I like him," he continued. "I think it's time to start asking the people that didn't like him what they think, quite frankly."

Plenty of evaluators questioned whether drafting Jones No. 6 overall was the correct move for the franchise, but the young quarterback has silenced his doubters thus far.

Consistently impressing during practice, Jones has completed 25 of 30 passes for 369 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in three preseason contests.

Despite the rookie's hot start, the coaching staff has yet to stray from their plan to start Eli Manning in at least the early portion of 2019.

"I've said it all along, Daniel, when it's his time to play, is gonna be ready and we're going to continue to get him ready," Shurmur said. "We got a couple of weeks left before we play Dallas."