Giants’ backup QB battle taking on new dimension

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The fight for the New York Giants' backup quarterback job is taking on a new dimension.

Heading into the preseason opener, veterans Geno Smith and Josh Johnson seemed to be dueling for the job as Eli Manning's understudy with third-round draft pick Davis Webb expected to be given a year to learn coach Ben McAdoo's system as the No. 3 quarterback.

Neither Smith nor Johnson stood out in the Giants' loss to Pittsburgh last weekend, and McAdoo Thursday left the door open for Webb to fight for the No. 2 job.

McAdoo said Webb is getting more snaps in training camp.

“Today was a little bit of a change of pace,” McAdoo said of the workout in which Webb ran a few extra scout team snaps for Monday's game in Cleveland. “We are learning to practice on how to prepare for an opponent. So we had some ups and downs today. We were a little slow with our tempo, but that will get better as we move forward. But Davis is going to get an opportunity to take some more snaps in that environment, yes.”

Since the Giants opened camp, Smith and Johnson seemed to be battling for the backup job with Webb not getting many snaps.

“We all have to be careful making assumptions,” McAdoo said. “Josh and Geno are competing right now for the No. 2 spot, and if that doesn't look the way we want it to look, Davis will get a crack.”

McAdoo said there is still a lot of time left in camp for Smith and Johnson to step up and win the backup job.