The New York Giants are benching Daniel Jones and will start backup quarterback Tommy DeVito in Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Giants are on a five-game losing streak (2-8) and in last place in the NFC East- tied for the worst record in the NFL. The Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension in 2023. They could release the quarterback this off-season, resulting in a dead salary cap hit of about $22.2 million. The move would save the team about $19.4 million in overall cap space.
A social post from the Giants read: “Coach Daboll: We are making a quarterback switch from Daniel Jones to Tommy DeVito. After evaluating and watching a lot of tape, that’s the reason we are going with Tommy. Drew Lock will be the backup. This was a necessary move for us and I’m looking forward to working with Tommy and he’ll be ready to go against Tampa Bay.”
Jones, 27, joined the Giants as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Through 10 starts this season he has completed 63.3% of his throws for 2,070 yards, eight scores and seven interceptions, throwing just two touchdown passes over his last five starts with four interceptions, and was sacked 17 times.
The QB sustained multiple injuries last season, including a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9; he completed 67.5% of his throws for 909 yards, two scores and six interceptions in six starts. In 2022, he completed a career-best 67.2% of his throws for a career-best 3,205 yards, 15 scores and five interceptions over 16 starts (when the Giants made the playoffs for the first time since 2016).
Jones’ primary backup for every game this season has been 28-year-old Drew Lock, 28, who completed 3 of 8 passes for 6 yards in two appearances. DeVito, 26, went 3-3 as a starter in 2023, completing 64% of his throws for 1,101 yards, eight scores and three interceptions over nine appearances last season.
The Giants will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
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