EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The door is now cracked opened. New York Giants coach Brian Daboll tried to slam it shut after final week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but it surely will not ever sit flush once more — not now that he benched quarterback Daniel Jones within the fourth quarter Sunday.
Daboll went into the locker room after a 28-3 loss and instantly declared Jones his starter shifting ahead. He informed the gamers a lot of the identical of what he mentioned publicly, he was simply attempting to create a “spark.”
There lingers the chance that the following time Jones struggles (maybe as early as Monday night time on the highway towards the Pittsburgh Steelers), Daboll may do it once more and name for backup Drew Lock.
The Giants (2-5) are in no-man’s land with their season and quarterback state of affairs. Whereas Jones reclaimed the beginning job, it did not seem he was given any assurances about remaining the starter.
“I feel after the sport, he mentioned to the group that I used to be the starter going ahead,” Jones mentioned. “So, I am going by way of the week making ready to play and play nicely. However when it comes to his plans, it is a greater query for him.”
At this level, remaining the starter for the remainder of the season is in query.
Daboll was requested straight if he felt the necessity to present Jones any reassurances.
“Yeah, I might say we have had conversations,” he mentioned. “These can be personal conversations, and our focus is on on the brink of play Pittsburgh.”
So … no? It definitely wasn’t a sure.
After the Steelers, the Giants have a brief week earlier than dealing with the resurgent Washington Commanders. Lastly, they play the one-win Carolina Panthers in Germany earlier than a bye week.
Loads of components might come into play throughout that point. How is Jones taking part in? Has the locker room reached its boiling level? What concerning the damage assure?
Jones has $23 million assured subsequent season for damage solely. It turns into absolutely assured on the fifth day of the league 12 months in 2025 if he is unable to cross a bodily. Proprietor John Mara said his public assist for normal supervisor Joe Schoen and Daboll earlier this week, however he would not contact any questions on Jones or the damage assure.
“I am not going to get into that,” Mara mentioned.
It appears apparent the Giants are making ready to draft a quarterback subsequent offseason. Within the meantime, they’ve some choices with Jones the rest of the season.
Possibility 1: Play it Out
This appears unlikely at this level, however there are 10 video games left within the season and Schoen and Daboll appear to imagine Jones provides them the very best probability to win. Possibly Jones goes on some type of distinctive run? Give him till the top of the season to point out what he can do with a No. 1 receiver like rookie Malik Nabers.
Jones proved in 2022 he can play at a excessive stage, ending sixth within the NFL with a 62.9 QBR. It is nonetheless in there someplace, and if Daboll actually is a QB whisperer, should not he be capable to pull a few of it out of Jones?
It is also not as if Lock blew anybody away together with his play this summer time or when he changed Jones on Sunday. He went 3-of-8 passing for six yards with two fumbles in a full quarter of motion.
Possibility 2: Take it quarter to quarter, week by week
This is perhaps the probably situation. Jones was already benched as soon as. Why not once more? Cannot absolutely shut that door now. If he’s taking part in poorly in Pittsburgh, it would not be in the slightest degree stunning to see Lock enter the sport. It appears solely a matter of time now that the Giants transfer on from Jones. It has been 5½ years. The locker room appears to know.
“Everyone knows on the finish of the day you have to produce or else any person else goes to be on the market in your job,” extensive receiver Wan’Dale Robinson mentioned this week.
Possibility 3: Make this week Jones’ final probability
One final hurrah. That’s what Monday night time towards the Pittsburgh Steelers could possibly be. If Jones performs nicely, he stays the starter. That a lot appears clear. If he would not, flip to Lock or Tommy DeVito subsequent week towards the Commanders.
At that time, the Jones period will likely be over barring a barrage of accidents. It should not less than give Giants followers a little bit of intrigue and cause to observe with 9 video games left within the season.
Possibility 4: Journey it out till the bye week
That is most likely the second-most possible choice except for taking it week by week. It would simply be higher to make use of the additional time throughout the bye to transition to a brand new quarterback.
If the Giants lose two of three, and the offense, which is averaging a putrid 14.1 factors, continues to battle, Daboll might want to do one thing. That is the simple fallback.
Making a full-time change at quarterback will likely be a last-gasp choice to show it was Jones, not Daboll’s offense, and salvage some optics heading into the offseason.
Possibility 5: Let him play till playoff elimination
That is the situation that most likely most closely fits possession, which does not imagine in tanking or not optimizing the group’s possibilities to win meaningless video games. This is able to give the Giants their greatest probability to win video games for many of the season earlier than merging their need to win with a seemingly apparent enterprise resolution.
They cannot danger Jones getting damage and having to ensure that $23 million if they’re already out of playoff competition and taking part in strictly for pleasure.
Get Jones out, put him in a protecting shell and provides Lock or DeVito a possibility to show themselves the ultimate few weeks of the season. That would maintain everybody comfortable.
