The New York Giants return from their bye in Week 12 with a game at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Giants have dropped their last five games in a row, most recently a 20-17 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Munich.
Averaging a league-worst 15.6 points per game entering Week 12, New York decided to make a change this week at quarterback. Starter Daniel Jones was benched for Tommy DeVito as the Giants enter their final seven games.
DeVito will start over offseason signee Drew Lock with Jones serving as the emergency third-string option. New York signed Lock to a one-year, $5 million deal and spent the first 11 weeks of the season with him as the backup to Jones.
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Despite sitting behind Jones, New York made the choice to go with DeVito. Lock spoke on Wednesday about the quarterback situation.
Drew Lock response to Tommy DeVito starting
Lock was asked on Wednesday about why he’s still the backup after Jones was benched for DeVito.
‘That’s a question that I still have for myself,’ Lock said. ‘It was expressed to me that I was going to be the [No. 2 quarterback]. It’s just an interesting situation. Not much I can really say about it besides again, I’m going to be here for him and we’re still communicating, still very good friends, believe it or not.
‘This team needs to get a win. You start winning, everything gets a little better around here.’
Lock most recently started for the Seattle Seahawks last season in a 20-17 ‘Monday Night Football’ win on Dec. 18 over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Why isn’t Drew Lock starting?
Giants coach Brian Daboll said in a statement posted on the team’s X account that they went with DeVito ‘after evaluating and watching a lot of tape.’
Lock appeared in just one of the Giants’ three preseason games. He completed 4 of 10 passes for 17 yards and an interception in limited action.
Drew Lock career stats
Lock has played in 30 games over five years with three teams: the Denver Broncos, Seahawks, and Giants. The Broncos selected him No. 42 overall in the 2019 NFL draft.
In his career, he’s completed 472 of 794 passes (59.4%) for 5,289 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. He also has 78 carries for 312 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Giants QB depth chart
Here’s how the depth chart looks entering Week 12:
Tommy DeVito
Drew Lock
Daniel Jones
The Giants also signed quarterback Tim Boyle to the practice squad. Boyle was getting reps ahead of Jones in the team’s first practice of the week.