It was reported ahead of the weekend that the 2-8 New York Giants could keep Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback coming off their bye if only because head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen may need to win at least three of the final seven games of the season to hold onto their jobs through the winter. 

However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Daboll is turning to 2023 undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito for this coming Sunday’s home contest against the 4-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Jones’ demotion was expected for multiple reasons. According to ESPN stats, the Giants began Monday ranked last in the NFL with an average of 15.6 points scored per game. Meanwhile, Jones is 26th in the league with a 46.8 adjusted QBR and 32nd with a 79.4 passer rating on the campaign. The Giants won just three of the past 16 games Jones started going back to September 2023. 

Sitting a healthy Jones ensures the injury guarantee for 2025 attached to his contract won’t get triggered. Thus, it seems likely he has taken his final meaningful in-game snap before the Giants part ways with him this coming offseason. 

Some may be surprised that primary backup Drew Lock isn’t immediately replacing Jones in the New York lineup. While Lock has become somewhat of a journeyman, DeVito showed promise as a first-year pro and could, at the very least, become a serviceable backup at the highest level. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing about DeVito leapfrogging Lock on the depth chart is that the move suggests the Giants are in an evaluation phase. This could signal that team co-owner John Mara has assured Daboll and Schoen they will be permitted to try to find Jones’ long-term replacement this offseason. Then again, Mara could ultimately change his mind about running it back with Daboll and Schoen if Big Blue finishes the campaign with only two or three total wins. 

Following Schefter’s report, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Giants as 4.5-point underdogs against the Buccaneers. If DeVito guides the hosts to an upset win at MetLife Stadium, some may wonder what could have been had Daboll gone to the New Jersey native for the Week 10 game against the lowly Carolina Panthers that the Giants lost with Jones. 





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