news

NY Giants QB starts for Tommy DeVito vs Dallas Cowboys

Vaseline November 28, 2024

Drew Lock has scored exactly once in the New York Giants starting offense since June, and that was when Tommy DeVito was forced to leave for a play in last Sunday’s 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That’s about to change for Lock.

Lock is expected to start at quarterback for the Giants on Thursday afternoon for their Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys, two people with knowledge of the situation told NorthJersey.com. A right forearm injury will likely keep DeVito inactive – available only in an emergency as the third quarterback – with Tim Boyle serving as Lock’s backup as the Giants (2-9) look to snap a six-game losing streak.

“Typical for the job: you always have to be ready,” says Lock. “Whatever the week is, whatever the situation is, the plan has to be to prepare like you’re going to go in there and play. And we’ll see how the rest of the week goes.”

DeVito did not travel with the team to Texas on Wednesday afternoon. He was left behind and underwent further evaluation to determine the severity of the injury, and the scans were clear.

The former Don Bosco star later joined the Giants on a separate flight after his testing and diagnosis were complete.

Initially, DeVito believed his sore forearm was just part of the overall soreness associated with his first competitive action since August, when he replaced Daniel Jones, who started the first ten games before being waived at his request after being benched fed up.

Jones will reportedly sign to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings, the team he helped beat in his best moment as a Giant in the 2022 NFC playoffs, and now he’s joining them.

If this had been a normal week with more time to recover, DeVito would have had a much better chance to play. But since he was still so sore on Wednesday (the eve of the game) that the Giants decided they wanted to make sure there wasn’t something more serious going on, DeVito remained a long shot without any practice in a short week. The only chance DeVito has to change the Giants’ minds — and perhaps his own — could come during pregame warmups, if continued treatment and recovery lead to significant improvement.

The Giants opted to start DeVito over Lock, even though the latter had served as the No. 2 quarterback all season.

“I’m going to handle this like a professional. I’m going to be a professional. That’s something I take pride in,” Lock said when the decision was announced by coach Brian Daboll. “I’m not going to be a guy who tears up the locker room. I have to build it up. I know winning and playing well on Sunday at the quarterback position is good for this team and I’m going to try to help (DeVito) do whatever we can.”

Drew Lock: The Scouting Report

Now in his sixth season, Lock spent the last two years with the Seahawks as QB2 behind Geno Smith after Seattle acquired him from the Denver Broncos in the 2022 Russell Wilson trade. He went 1-1 in two starts last year , while Smith was sidelined with a groin injury. He lost to the 49ers before beating the Eagles on “Monday Night Football.”

Lock also appeared in Monday night’s game against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, while Smith was sidelined with an injury before returning. He has completed nearly 60% of his passes for 28 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 31 games over a five-year career.

Lock has a big arm and there is little hesitation in his game when it comes to attacking downfield. That has led to reckless play in his career. As a Giant, he missed three weeks in August with oblique and hip injuries, and that time sidelined slowed his acclimatization.

2019 NFL Draft Rewind: What Could Have Been

If history had told a different story, Lock might have been the Giants’ selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. The former regime of coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman did their homework, and team brass visited Lock after his Pro Day in Missouri and then brought him to the Meadowlands for a “30” visit.

In another twist, Lock and Jones were roommates at the 2019 Senior Bowl.