Giants rookie Chad Jones heading to New Orleans after long hospital stay

Giants rookie safety Chad Jones leaving hospital

NEW YORK — New York Giants rookie safety Chad Jones is heading home to New Orleans after a nearly monthlong stay in the hospital.

The Giants say the third-round draft pick from LSU was scheduled to be released from the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan on Tuesday to return to home.

Jones was transferred to the hospital June 29 after suffering serious injuries to his left leg and ankle in an early morning, single-car accident in New Orleans on June 24.

Jones has undergone several surgeries both in New Orleans and New York since the accident. He plans to rest and recuperate in New Orleans before returning to New York in several weeks and undergoing further surgery.

The Giants open training camp Sunday at the University at Albany. The team has neither made a roster move with Jones nor discussed how his injuries might affect his career.

Jones signed his contract about a week before the accident.

“Chad is in great spirits and excited to be getting out of the hospital,” said Giants vice president of medical services Ronnie Barnes, who visited Jones on Tuesday morning. “All has gone well thus far for Chad, and he will return in probably six to eight weeks for another surgical procedure.”

A two-sport star in college, Jones was injured when his SUV slammed into a pole in a dawn wreck.

Police were not able to test his blood-alcohol level before he went into surgery. Officers were able to interview Jones’ two passengers, who had only minor injuries, and found no evidence that alcohol was a factor.

The hospital likely conducted its own blood or urine tests, but authorities have not decided whether to subpoena those, police said. Jones was cited for careless operation of a vehicle.

A play-making safety with the Tigers, Jones was part of LSU’s 2007 national championship team and was a left-handed relief pitcher for the 2009 Tigers squad that won the College World Series. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers weeks after the Giants selected him in the NFL draft.