Chad Jones Waived By Giants; Miracle Comeback Hits Snag
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Chad Jones wowed his doubters by running the 40-yard dash in 4.84 seconds just seven months ago.
On Monday, his miracle comeback was cut short. At least temporarily.
The Giants waived Jones, their third-round pick in 2010, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident two months after being drafted.
In announcing the move, the Super Bowl champions said Jones failed his physical.
"At this time he has residual sensory loss, muscle weakness, and tenuous soft tissue coverage in the involved lower leg," Giants associate physician Dr. Scott Rodeo said in a statement. "The resultant functional impairment precludes his ability to perform physically at the level required for professional football."
Jones suffered multiple fractures and nerve damage in his lower left leg in the accident in New Orleans on June 2010. He underwent several hours of surgery and has spent the past two years in an arduous rehabilitation regimen. Jones spent the last two seasons on the reserve/non-football injury list.
"Chad had a severe injury to his left leg, involving a complex tibial fracture with associated injury to muscle, nerves, and vascular structures," Rodeo said. "This type of injury is often limb threatening, and can sometimes require amputation. He has made a remarkable recovery to date, with successful salvage of the leg."
Jones reported to the team's offseason conditioning program last month to continue his rehabilitation program but was not cleared to participate in football activities.
"We consider Chad to be part of the Giants family, and we'll continue to work with him in his rehab," general manager Jerry Reese said. "As we've said since his accident, we're thankful he is alive and able to lead a normal life."
Rocky Arceneaux, Jones' agent, said the Giants' care and support has far exceeded their obligations and that Jones and his family will be eternally grateful.
"Chad is experiencing a minor setback and we expect a full recovery within a few months," said Arceneaux. "He thanks everyone for their continued support and prayers. He will see his teammates on the field soon."
The Giants also announced that they had signed receiver Brandon Collins of Southeast Louisiana, linebacker Jake Muasau of Georgia State and safety Will Hill of Florida. All three attended a rookie minicamp last week on a tryout basis.
Collins played two seasons at Texas before transferring to Southeastern Louisiana. He caught 61 passes for 746 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Muasau was voted by his teammates as Georgia State's Most Valuable Defensive Player in 2010 and 2011. An outside linebacker, he is the school's career leader in tackles for loss (16 1/2) and interceptions (3) and he had 106 career tackles, seven sacks, four fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles.
Hill sat out last season after declaring for the 2011 NFL draft following his junior season and not finding a team. He played in 38 games with the Gators, making 15 starts and recording 144 tackles and four interceptions.
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