Coach Brian Daboll met with the media early Tuesday afternoon for the first time since the Giants (4-8) returned from their bye week. The team will have an extra day to prepare for Monday night's home game against the Packers (6-6), who enter with a three-game winning streak after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-19, in Green Bay on Sunday night.
Here's what you need to know from the Tuesday presser:
🔹 Before the team dispersed last week, Daboll said the staff would have "plenty of meetings" about the quarterback situation for the final stretch of the season. The result of those discussions is that Tommy DeVito will start for the fourth consecutive week.
🔹 Veteran Tyrod Taylor, despite returning to practice from injured reserve, is on track to be the backup. "Tyrod, obviously, we brought him up to see where he is by the end of the week. Hopefully he'll be ready to go. If he is, he'll be the backup and Tommy will be the starter."
🔹 Daboll said Taylor has been a "true professional" and those conversations are "never easy."
🔹 Daboll "just thought Tommy earned it. Went back, watched all the tape, thought he played two games, good games, and obviously, things we can all work on. I thought he earned the right to play. … I think Tommy's done a good job; he's improved in each of the games he's played. I thought he played well the last two games, made good decisions, was accurate with the football and earned the right to play."
🔹 Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence (hamstring) and right tackle Evan Neal (ankle) did not practice. Lawrence missed the Week 12 victory over New England, while Neal has not played since Week 9. "Other than that, we're in pretty good shape."
🔹 Tight end Darren Waller, who has been on injured reserve for a month, is "making progress" but likely won't be ready for Week 14.
🔹 The Giants are planning to sign quarterback Matt Barkley back to the practice squad. Barkley was waived on Monday, and fellow quarterback Jacob Eason was released from the practice squad.
🔹 Daboll was asked about reports that running backs coach Jeff Nixon is being targeted for the offensive coordinator position at Syracuse. Does Daboll give it his blessing? "Yeah, absolutely. I worked with Jeff back in 2011, got a lot of respect for him and his family. Something we've talked about. He hasn't made that decision yet but an opportunity to be a coordinator, whether it's in the pros or Division I-A, those are hard to come by, so we'll see what he decides with that but certainly, yeah."
🔹 Daboll expects that Nixon would finish the season first.
🔹 Daboll wasn't surprised by the Packers' double-digit win over the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
"No. They've got good players. Got a lot of respect for (Packers Head Coach) Matt (LeFleur). He's a heck of a coach. I think (Packers quarterback Jordan) Love has done a really good job of improving week to week. He's a very talented player. Really an ideal system. Relative to, go back all the way to, what, '92 or '91, where (former Packers quarterback) Brett (Favre) is traded (by) Atlanta and plays for however many years, 17 there or 16, and had one losing season. Draft another guy in the first round who's a Hall of Famer, too. Got to sit a little while and watch him and then took over, and maybe get two or three, I don't know. So, 30 years, three guys.
"I'd say he's accurate. He's got quick feet. He can throw the ball wherever it needs to. He seems like he's really in control of the system. I'd say the young skill guys are good players. (Packers wide receiver Romeo) Doubs is a good player, (Packers wide receiver Jayden) Reed from Michigan State, you see where (Packers wide receiver Christian) Watson is after that reverse he ran, (Packers tight end Luke) Musgrave I know is out… Good core, young nucleus, athletic, can get open, create separation. I think he's done a good job as you watch him throughout the season of improving at his craft, but he also has a lot of talent, too."
🔹 Love was a first-round draft choice, while DeVito went undrafted. Can a quarterback come from anywhere? "I'd say every situation is different. I've been around guys that have been drafted in the second round, first round, sixth round, free agents, third round. So, I think it's first up to the individual player and how they develop, but it's also about the cohesiveness, the scheme and the people around him. It takes a lot of people to develop a quarterback, but it all starts with that player in particular, whoever that player may be."
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