This could be the week Colt goes back in the stable and the lead horse returns.

Quarterback Daniel Jones was a limited participant in last Friday’s practice and will pick up from there when the Giants return to action Wednesday, after a cross-country flight Monday and a players’ day off Tuesday. If he passes the mobility test, Jones will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, meaning he will have missed just six quarters with a hamstring strain.

“We’re going to give him every opportunity to go on the practice field this week and show that he can defend himself on the field properly,” coach Joe Judge said. “If that’s the case, we obviously want him to play. We’re going to make sure we’re doing the right thing by him.”

Colt McCoy filled the description of veteran backup to perfection. He turned three short-fields into three field goals to preserve a win against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he orchestrated a comeback upset Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

McCoy’s only turnover in either game was an interception on a pass through Evan Engram’s hands. He threw a touchdown and let the Giants’ power rushing attack and disguise-based defense lead the way in a throwback to yesteryear — and the portrait of success in the eyes of team ownership and general manager Dave Gettleman.

Jones knew he was a long shot to play all last week, McCoy said, but still tried to fight his way into the lineup and wasn’t ruled out until game day. The Giants elevated Clayton Thorson to the active roster and signed Alex Tanney to the practice squad as insurance.

“I had to make the decision this week to go ahead and hold him out,” Judge said. “He was a little disappointed because he’s a competitive guy.”

The determining factor on Jones’ availability will be whether he can use his legs.

The Giants do not want him contained to the pocket like a “sitting duck” against a pass rush with 29 sacks on the season. There is a school of thought that a limited Jones is still better than McCoy, but Jones is at his most effective when defenses have to respect his ability to run a read-option keeper or scramble when receivers are covered.

“When there’s pressure in the pocket, can he sidestep? Can he step up?” Judge said. “If he has to leave the pocket and scramble, if there’s a gap open for him to go ahead and tuck that ball and run to get a first down, are these things we’re OK with him doing and we’re confident that he’s going to go out there and do it without getting hurt worse?”

If Jones plays, it will be the second meeting between the top two quarterbacks drafted in 2019.

Kyler Murray, who won at MetLife Stadium last season despite a relatively quiet showing, is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL. But only three quarterbacks entered Sunday leading their teams in rushing — Jones, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Seattle’s Russell Wilson.

Jones would have “fought through whatever pain he had,” Judge said. But McCoy — who earned his first win in six starts since 2014 — gave the Giants the luxury to play it safe.

Next week could be a very different story for Jones.

“I want to make sure that when his natural instincts kick in as a player, that he’s not limited somehow physically or someone has an advantage over him on the field,” Judge said. “That’s just not fair for us to do. These are great athletes on the field, they’re playing very aggressive, and he’s at the toughest position in terms of holding the ball every play and everybody trying to take your head off. He has to be able to have some kind of mobility.”