EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After suffering a fifth consecutive defeat, including a recent loss in Germany to the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is contemplating whether to bench quarterback Daniel Jones.
This marks the first instance this season where Daboll has expressed uncertainty regarding the future of his quarterback, who is under a hefty contract worth $160 million, following Jones’ uneven showing in the 20-17 overtime defeat last Sunday.
Should a change occur, either Drew Lock or Tommy DeVito would take the helm as the starting quarterback for the Giants, who currently possess the worst record in the NFC at 2-8.
Although Daboll refrained from confirming a change on Monday, he typically has been resolute in stating that Jones remains his choice when questioned about his quarterback this season.
“We’re in the process of evaluating our team during the bye week, which is what we’re focused on,” Daboll explained, offering a reason for his differing stance.
Lock has mainly seen limited action in backup scenarios, while DeVito previously led the Giants to a brief winning streak last season, yet has been relegated to the third quarterback role during games.
With a second consecutive disappointing season looming, Daboll emphasized that he and his coaching staff would analyze various factors, including strategies, situational decisions, techniques, and player performances in their assessment.
Drafted sixth overall in 2019, Jones is currently in the midst of his four-year contract’s second year. His most notable performance occurred during the 2022 season, which was also Daboll’s inaugural year, guiding the Giants to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
When asked if benching Jones would mean wasting financial resources, Daboll avoided a direct answer.
“We’re going to review the tape and make the decision we feel is in the team’s best interest,” he stated.
In the recent game, Jones completed 22 passes out of 37 attempts for 190 yards, failing to score a touchdown and throwing two interceptions within the red zone. These turnovers significantly contributed to the Giants’ struggles.
If the team had managed a field goal from either interception, they might have emerged victorious.
The interceptions were not the sole issues; Jones also missed a chance to connect with Malik Nabers for a first down during a critical third-and-8 in the first quarter and overlooked two open receivers during a flea-flicker play in the second quarter while trailing 10-0.
New York will enjoy a week off before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 24 at MetLife Stadium, where they have yet to win a single game this season.
With seven games remaining, improvements from both Jones and his teammates could lead to more favorable outcomes. Switching to Lock or DeVito, however, doesn’t appear to be the solution to their problems.
In terms of what is functioning optimally, the Giants’ rushing offense has performed admirably over the last three weeks, except for a fumble by Tyrone Tracy in overtime. They have accumulated rushing yards of 157, 164, and 167 in their three latest games.
If Jones can demonstrate better accuracy and utilize open receivers, the effectiveness of the offense could improve significantly.
On the other hand, one of the glaring issues is the team’s sluggish starts; in ten games played, the Giants have only scored 22 points in the first quarter. They have found themselves trailing in seven of those games, leading in just one, and have been tied in two.
In terms of individual performances, Evan Neal deserves recognition. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft returned to the right tackle position for the first time since suffering an ankle injury that required surgery. Although his path to recovery was lengthy, resulting in his temporary loss of the starting job, Neal excelled upon his return, registering no penalties or sacks allowed—exactly the type of performance every tackle aspires to achieve.
Conversely, Jones’ performance remains inconsistent, hindering his team’s offensive capability despite some heroic rallying maneuvers that managed to force overtime.
At this time, no new injuries were reported after the recent game.
A key statistic to note is the three turnovers committed by the Giants, the final one being a fumble by Tracy on the very first play of overtime, which ultimately set the stage for the game-winning field goal by the Panthers.
Looking ahead, a healthier Giants squad will confront the Buccaneers on November 24, and the hope is for improved performance as the season progresses.