Giants Face Thanksgiving Uncertainty: Tommy DeVito’s Status in Question
Thanksgiving football is a tradition, but for the New York Giants, this year’s holiday matchup against the Dallas Cowboys comes with a side of uncertainty. Quarterback Tommy DeVito is “not 100%” to play due to a forearm injury, according to head coach Brian Daboll. With the Giants sitting at a dismal 2-9 record and riding a six-game losing streak, the timing couldn’t be worse.
“His forearm is sore, and we’ll see where we’re at,” Daboll said during a press conference. The team is hopeful DeVito will be ready to make his second start since taking over for the benched Daniel Jones, but the short week between games isn’t doing the young quarterback any favors. Officially, DeVito is listed as a limited participant in Tuesday’s walk-through practice, leaving the Giants scrambling to prepare for one of the NFL’s toughest defenses.
DeVito’s Tough Debut
DeVito’s first start as the Giants’ quarterback came last Sunday in a 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-year undrafted free agent completed 21 of 31 passes for 189 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. While those numbers might not jump off the page, DeVito showed resilience in the face of relentless pressure. Unfortunately, he also took several big hits, including one that briefly knocked him out of the game before he returned for the final drive.
“He just got dinged up a little bit. I think he had the wind knocked out of him back there,” Daboll explained. “He took a couple shots. So, hopefully he’ll be OK.”
But as of now, that’s far from a guarantee. Daboll noted that DeVito participated in Monday’s walk-through, albeit with limited throwing. “I wouldn’t say it’s timing or a lot of depth to it or velocity to it, but he was throwing in a walk-through,” Daboll said. “He’s going to test it out here [Tuesday] in practice in another walk-through, so I’m hopeful, but it’s not a hundred percent.”
Backup Plan: Drew Lock
If DeVito can’t go, the Giants will turn to backup quarterback Drew Lock. Lock, who has yet to take a snap for the Giants this season, is expected to get some first-team reps in practice this week as a precaution. “I’m going to give Drew a few snaps here and see,” Daboll said. “We’ve got a lot of time on task with the walk-throughs, the stuff that we’ve put in. We just had one earlier [Tuesday], so I’m going to give Drew a few of those.”
Still, Daboll made it clear that if DeVito is healthy, he’ll be the starter. “If Tommy’s good, then Tommy will be the guy,” he said.
Challenges of a Short Week
One of the biggest hurdles for the Giants is the quick turnaround between games. With just four days to prepare for the Cowboys, there’s little time for DeVito to recover fully or for Lock to get up to speed with the first-team offense. The Giants’ offensive line, which has struggled all season, will also need to step up to protect whoever is under center against a Cowboys defense that ranks among the league’s best.
DeVito’s injury wasn’t even on the radar until Tuesday morning, when Daboll noticed the quarterback wearing a sleeve on his arm. “Just this morning, like today, he was out there with his sleeve and I’m like, you good?” Daboll recalled. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ll be good. I’ll be good. I’m a little sore.’”
What’s at Stake
For the Giants, this Thanksgiving game is about more than just pride. With their playoff hopes all but extinguished, the team is looking to build momentum and evaluate young talent for the future. DeVito, who started the season as the third-string quarterback, is a key part of that evaluation process. But if he’s unable to play, the Giants will have to rely on Lock, who has yet to prove himself in New York.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are heavy favorites heading into the matchup, and for good reason. Dallas boasts a 7-3 record and is coming off a dominant win. For the Giants to have any chance of pulling off an upset, they’ll need a strong performance from their quarterback—whoever that may be.
Key Takeaways
- Tommy DeVito is “not 100%” to play on Thanksgiving due to a forearm injury.
- Backup quarterback Drew Lock is taking first-team reps in practice as a precaution.
- The Giants are on a six-game losing streak and sit at 2-9 for the season.
- DeVito’s status will likely be a game-time decision, leaving the Giants with little time to prepare.
As the Giants prepare to face the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, all eyes will be on DeVito’s recovery. Will the young quarterback be able to suit up and lead his team, or will the Giants be forced to turn to Lock? Either way, it’s shaping up to be a challenging holiday for Big Blue.
Originally Written by: Jordan Raanan
