Inspecting the Giants’ choices at quarterback

New York Giants coach Daniel Jones has confirmed he’ll miss the season as a result of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee.

Jones, who was returning after lacking three video games with a neck harm, left within the first half of Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The fifth-year QB suffered a knee harm after taking simply 21 snaps. An MRI confirmed the Giants’ fears that their beginning lineup would miss the rest of the season.

“I noticed him for 30 seconds right here earlier than I got here to this press convention,” Daboll advised reporters on Monday. “He was having a gathering with the docs. He simply interrupted me and advised me what it was like. I hugged him.”

Jones completed the 2023 season with simply two touchdowns and 6 interceptions in six video games. The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Giants in March after main them to the playoffs final season.

However now the way forward for the franchise is in query. Jones’ harm could possibly be the ultimate push the 2-7 Giants want to pick a quarterback — maybe USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Could — relying on their 2024 draft slot.

Earlier than all that, there are nonetheless matches to be performed. And now the injury-plagued Giants are on the backside of the beginning quarterback place once more. Daboll advised reporters that he’ll meet with normal supervisor Joe Schoen later Monday to judge what the staff will do on the place with Jones out.

Here is the state of New York’s quarterback room following Jones’ season-ending harm.

DeVito might get his first NFL begin

The Giants at the moment are with out their greatest quarterback.

Backup QB Tyrod Taylor began for the Giants whereas Jones was on his manner again from a neck harm. However Taylor suffered a rib harm in an additional time loss to the New York Jets final week and has since been positioned on injured reserve. Daboll mentioned Monday he wasn’t certain if Taylor can be wholesome sufficient to see the sector once more this season.

Tommy DeVito performed the remainder of the sport at quarterback for the Giants in opposition to the Raiders. The undrafted rookie went 15 of 20 passing for 175 yards, a landing and two interceptions in his second NFL recreation. That got here every week after DeVito noticed his first skilled motion, when he completed with lower than one yard and scored a dashing landing in aid of Taylor.

If DeVito makes his first NFL begin in Week 10 in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys — a staff that beat the Giants 40-0 within the season opener — he would be the tenth participant to begin this season, setting a single-digit season document.

The one wholesome quarterback within the Giants’ constructing proper now could be Matt Barkley. The 33-year-old, who final began in 2018, was signed to the Giants’ follow squad final week. Barkley beforehand spent three seasons beneath Daboll when the Giants coach was the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Payments. The 2013 fourth-round decide has thrown 11 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 19 profession video games.

Giants free agent QB choices

Saquon Barkley, Andrew Thomas and Darren Waller are amongst a number of notable Giants gamers who’ve missed time with accidents this season. Jones’ torn ACL is one other massive blow for the Giants throughout a season that has gone from unhealthy to worse.

“The primary emotion is simply devastation,” Giants vast receiver Darius Slayton mentioned Monday of Jones’ harm. “All of us work laborious to take advantage of the 17 alternatives we get every year to play the sport we love. Losing that a lot time is just not simple for any of us to take care of. He’s a really resilient individual, and a really robust individual,” he mentioned. However he isn’t alone on this both. We’ll assist him, assist him and be with him via this course of.”

Thomas added: “It is devastating. One in every of my teammates, considered one of my greatest buddies. It is unhealthy to listen to information like this with accidents like this.”

The Giants have eight common season contests remaining, together with three earlier than the bye week. If DeVito or Barkley aren’t a viable resolution to New York’s QB downside the remainder of the season, listed here are three free brokers the franchise might flip to:

Carson Wentz: The previous No. 2 general decide has performed for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, so why not be part of the NFC East’s third staff. Wentz, a former Professional Bowler and MVP candidate, stays a free agent after spending the final three seasons with three franchises. The 30-year-old went 2-5 in seven begins as a starter for Washington final season, throwing for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns and 9 picks.

Colt McCoy: A QB with prior expertise filling in for an injured Jones continues to be on the free agent market. McCoy, who entered the league in 2010 and began video games for 4 groups, earned the nod beneath heart twice with the Giants in 2020. He threw for 375 yards, a landing and an interception in 4 video games that season. The 37-year-old spent the previous two years with the Arizona Cardinals however was minimize earlier than the season.

Joe Flacco: The longtime Baltimore Ravens participant nonetheless wants a house. Flacco spent three seasons with the New York Jets from 2020-22, beginning 4 video games final season, regardless of not being re-signed earlier than the 2023 season. The 38-year-old former Tremendous Bowl champion accomplished 57.6 % of his passes final season. He threw 5 touchdowns in comparison with three interceptions.