Former LSU safety Chad Jones practically shattered his leg almost two years ago.
Now, he’s shattering expectations on the gridiron at the New York Giants spring workouts.
The Giants, who drafted Jones in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, stuck with Jones even after a June 2010 car accident in New Orleans mangled his left leg, fracturing his fibula and tibia, puncturing several arteries and causing extensive nerve damage.
But Jones’ return to the practice field has validated the support, as he has lifted weights, participated in lateral movement drills and ran sprints since rejoining the team last week.
Far from playing shape, though, Jones said his conditioning is still an issue.
“It’s a good sign that the leg is feeling good, for sure,” Jones said. “But I feel the hamstring and quads get a little sore and burn quicker. Getting that football endurance back is my priority.”
The Giants are treating him like an injured player, supplying physical therapy and slowly nurturing him back to full health.
Jones initially signed a four-year deal with the Giants after the draft, but the contract was restructured in February.
His 2012 salary was slashed from $490,000 to $390,000, and 2013’s payout went from $575,000 to $480,000.
Jones’ father, Al, said his son isn’t worried about contracts and was relieved just to be a football player again when he departed the Big Easy for the Big Apple on April 15.
“He’s a happy person,” Al Jones said. “Chad was always nervous stepping on the field, healthy or not. The emotions were mixed because he’s not guaranteed anything. He was still smiling when he left.”
It’s only been six months since Jones could even sprint at full speed again. He ran a 4.84 40-yard dash on Oct. 5 – his 23rd birthday – at St. Martin’s High School in New Orleans, culminating 15 months of full rehab with acclaimed therapist John Moran.
Contact will be Jones’ next hurdle. The Giants’ medical staff has yet to clear him for football activities, a necessity before he can don pads.
Jones said his teammates have been nothing but supportive, and the organization called his comeback “incredible.”
“It’s inspiring,” Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas told reporters last week. “I’m nothing compared to this guy, who [nearly] had his leg amputated. For him to be running and for the Giants to give him another shot, it just shows so much respect the organization has for him and how much hard work he’s put in.”
But Jones said he’s not practicing just to be an inspiration and making a roster is not his ultimate goal.
“I’m an NFL player, and I still believe that,” he said last fall. “I’m not working my way back to watch. I don’t think the Giants would keep me around if they didn’t believe in me, too.”
Jones weighed in at 223 pounds in camp, which is five pounds more than his listed weight at the 2010 NFL Combine.
Giants general manager Jerry Reese recently said Jones “still has a long way to go,” and the safety underwent his 14th surgery related to the accident just five weeks ago, getting five screws removed from his leg.
Still, Jones and his family say just being able to walk again is miraculous enough, let alone another shot at playing football.
“Sometimes, I look at Chad like a normal person, but I catch myself realizing his path hasn’t been normal,” Al Jones said. “I don’t know if there’s a word in the dictionary to describe the feeling. It’s one giant step to a miracle.”
 
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]