After his mini-star turn with six starts last season, Tommy DeVito played the majority of snaps at quarterback for the Giants in their first preseason game last night.
He came in to relieve Drew Lock in the second quarter and played the rest of the game, leading both of New York’s touchdown drives in the 14-3 win over Detroit.
“He’s getting better. I think he’s got firm control of the offense,” head coach Brian Daboll said of DeVito in his postgame press conference. “The guys have a lot of confidence in him. I have confidence in him. He’s really come a long way since he’s been here. It’s good for him to play as much as he did. So, keep on developing him.
“Quarterbacks are hard to find in this league. Undrafted, free agent, won three games, played in some games last year for us. Still knows he has a long way to go, but smart, accurate, makes good decisions. Good young player to work with.”
DeVito finished the game 8-of-15 passing for 92 yards.
Last season, he completed 64 percent of his throws for 1,101 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games.
Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers caught a lot of passes in this week’s joint practices with the Lions, but he wasn’t able to do the same in Thursday night’s preseason game between the teams.
The first-round pick played his first game since entering the NFL and it didn’t take long for him to show the skills that made him such a high choice. Nabers broke free deep on his first play, but quarterback Drew Lock wound up keeping the ball and scrambling. The same thing happened again on the team’s third offensive possession and Nabers’s night came to an end a short time later.
After the game, head coach Brian Daboll said Lock “was trying to make a smart decision” based on what he saw on defense on the first play and Nabers said that there are a lot of things that have to fall into place for the ball to come his way.
“It felt good to be back on the football field, playing a real game,” Nabers said, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “We had a plan. I wasn’t sure if I was playing. I did a very good job of getting open, but everything has to go my way to get the ball. It was kind of slippery out there. I think I could’ve done a better job of creating separation, getting better looks for the QB to throw the ball in better spots. That’s all I can do — continue to do what I do.”
If Nabers keeps getting open, the ball will find him and the Giants are banking on good things happening once it does.
Giants backup quarterback Drew Lock left Thursday’s preseason game early with a left hip injury. Lock, though, escaped serious injury.
General Manager Joe Schoen said on the team’s broadcast that Lock was fine and could have returned to the game.
Lock landed hard on his hip after a sack by Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill.
Coach Brian Daboll said after the game that Lock is “sore” but shouldn’t miss much time, if any.
“I don’t foresee it being a long time,” Daboll said, via Ralph Vacchiano of Fox.
With starting quarterback Daniel Jones sitting out of the Giants’ preseason opener, Tommy DeVito went the rest of the way.
Lock was only 4-of-10 for 17 yards with an interception before leaving.
The Giants beat the Lions 14-3.
The Giants were forced to use several quarterbacks last season due to injury and they had to make another change in the first quarter of Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Lions.
Drew Lock started for the Giants and he left after taking a hit while delivering an incompletion on the team’s third offensive possession. Tommy DeVito replaced Lock and remained in the game for the next drive.
Lock remained on the sideline, so there doesn’t appear to be concern that he suffered a serious injury. He is set to be the backup to Daniel Jones, who did not play Thursday as he continues to work back from last year’s torn ACL.
Lock was 4-of-10 for 17 yards and an interception. He was also sacked once and pressured multiple times during his brief appearance.
UPDATE 8:01 p.m. ET: The Giants say Lock has a hip injury and is questionable to return.
Malik Nabers believes his performance during joint practices with the Lions shows he belongs in the NFL. Whatever it was, the Giants believe.
Nabers is listed as a starting receiver in the team’s initial preseason depth chart.
The other starting receivers are Wan’Dale Robinson and, sharing a spot, Jalin Hyatt and Darius Slayton.
Veteran Allen Robinson II, who was cut by the Steelers before signing with the Giants, appears behind Nabers and Isaiah Hodgins, as a third-stringer. That puts Robinson in danger of not making the team; guys that low on the depth chart are usually expected to play a wide range of special teams.