EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants' quarterback carousel took another turn today as the team continues to grapple with injuries in the final quarter of the season.
After two spins with Drew Lock, Brian Daboll said that Tommy DeVito will return as the starting quarterback when the Giants host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in MetLife Stadium. DeVito started against Tampa Bay on Nov. 24, the first game after the bye week and Daniel Jones' release. He injured his throwing forearm in that game, and Lock started the next two games, at Dallas on Thanksgiving and last week vs. New Orleans. But Lock suffered a heel injury and is wearing a boot. He also has a left elbow injury.
"He won't be out on the practice field today," Daboll said. "Can't tell you if he'd be ready to go (in the game) right now. So, Tommy will get all the reps. … Can't see him (Lock) going tomorrow. Hopefully, Friday we can see whether or not he can end up being a two or a three (second or third quarterback on Sunday). But, not there yet as of today."
So, it's back to DeVito, who has completed 21 of 31 passes for 189 yards with neither a touchdown nor an interception this season. If Lock is not ready to be the backup, Tim Boyle will be No. 2. Boyle was re-signed to the practice squad yesterday.
"I'm all healthy now - 100 percent," DeVito said. "I feel pretty good right now."
When asked to describe what it's like to assume the starting job, lose it and then get it back again, DeVito chose another amusement park ride.
"It's just a roller coaster," he said. "But it's part of the process, part of the journey. I'm just staying even keeled through it all and just continuing to keep my head down and work.
"You always got to be ready for whatever happens. Obviously, it's been a little bit of a crazy situation this whole year with everything that's gone on. So, there's almost no surprises at this point. You just got to stay ready. Whoever's out there, whatever number is going to be out there and ready to be called, we're going to go out there and support them. Right now, it's me. So, I'm going to go out there and play for everybody in the locker room."
Quarterback is not the only position affected by injuries. The Giants today put safety Tyler Nubin on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The rookie second-round draft choice leads the Giants and all NFL rookies with 97 tackles (57 solo). It's the second week in a row the Giants have lost the player who topped their tackle chart. Bobby Okereke has a back injury that forced him out of the lineup against New Orleans, the first game he missed in two seasons with the Giants,
Dane Belton took over for Nubin last week and is expected to start this week.
"Definitely ready," said Belton, who was limited in practice with a knee injury. "Just want to take advantage of the opportunity. That's all you can do."
And then there's the offensive line. The Giants started the same five linemen in each of the season's first six games. But Andrew Thomas sustained a season-ending foot injury against Cincinnati on Oct. 13 and since then the changes up front have been constant. On Sunday, the Giants will start their sixth different O-line combination in eight games.
Left guard Jon Runyan, Jr. played the first 845 snaps of the season before injuring his ankle against the Saints. "I don't think he'll make this week," Daboll said. "Could be longer but I don't think he's going to make this week."
Aaron Stinnie stepped in to play his first 44 offensive snaps of the season and will presumably start Sunday. Evan Neal played every snap at right tackle in each of the last four games, but did not practice today because of hip and ankle injuries. Three other tackles were limited – Jermaine Eluemunor (quad), Chris Hubbard (knee) and Joshua Ezeudu (knee).
"Jermaine (who missed the last two games), he's made good progress," Daboll said. "Hubbard, he'll do some stuff today. Get a feel for it as it goes on. But, probably more optimistic with Jermaine. I think we'll see where we're at with Hubbard."
There's more. Center John Michael Schmitz was also limited, as was guard Austin Schlottmann, whose 21-day window to return from injured reserve opened today. He fractured his fibula in the preseason.
"That's where we're at," Daboll said. "So, we'll do a good job of getting these guys ready and make sure they got everything down gameplan wise and go out there and compete as hard as we can."
*Okereke wasn't on the practice field and Daboll was asked if the team is going to shut him down for the season's final four games.
"I couldn't tell you that right now," he said. "I just know he's not doing anything today."
*Defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who missed the New Orleans game with neck and shoulder injuries suffered in Dallas, did not practice.
"(He) is getting better, but he still won't practice," Daboll said.
*Rookie cornerback Dru Philips also missed practice with a shoulder injury.
*The other players limited in practice starts with the team's leading receiver, rookie Malik Nabers.
"A little banged up, but I'm working through it," said Nabers, who added he has "no doubt he will play Sunday."
Also limited were cornerbacks Deonte Banks (rib), Cor'Dale Flott (quad), and Art Green (quad), wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder), and defensive lineman Jordon Riley (knee).
*Nabers has 819 receiving yards and must average 45.2 yards in the final four weeks to become the Giants' first 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham, Jr. (1,052) in 2018.
"As a receiver, that's your landmark for over a year," Nabers said. "College, whether it be the league, you want to hit 1,000 yards. So yeah, 1,000 yards is in my head, for sure."
*A year ago today, DeVito led the Giants to a Monday night victory against Green Bay, his third consecutive and most recent triumph as a starting quarterback. He was selected the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. And yes, he was aware of the anniversary.
"I got a notification on my phone," he said. "I saw a picture of me and (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) that popped up on my phone. It was good. We were kind of talking about it earlier."
The Giants won the game, 24-22, on Randy Bullock's 37-yard field goal as time expired. They held an 8-point lead in the third quarter, but the Packers took the lead with 1:44 left before DeVito led them on a game-winning 57-yard drive that included a 32-yard pass to Robinson.
What does DeVito recall about that night?
"Getting a win," he said. "A lot of ups and downs throughout that game. Honestly, last week reminded me a lot of it, just seeing the way that Drew hugged that sideline. It was kind of similar to seeing Wan'Dale hug that sideline to go down and get into field goal range. But there was a lot of good, a lot of bad in that game, but ultimately came out with a win, especially on a Monday night. Awesome atmosphere. It was just a lot of fun."
*In addition to placing Nubin on I.R., the Giants signed defensive back Divaad Wilson off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad. Wilson, 24, played in two games last season and again this season for the Cards.
*The Giants also signed tackle Jalen McKenzie to their practice squad.
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