Eli takes a seat as Jones starts
It appears the end of an era for the New York Giants is at hand.
Coach Pat Shurmur said Tuesday that QB Daniel Jones would make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Buccaneers in place two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.
Manning, 38, has been the Giants’ starter since midway through the 2004 season. He led Big Blue to Super Bowl wins over the Patriots in 2007 and 2011. Manning holds all of the Giants’ career passing records, including attempts, completions, passing yards and TD passes.
He’s passed for 556 yards with two TDs and two INTs for the winless Giants this season.
“Eli was obviously disappointed, as you would expect, but he said he would be what he has always been, a good teammate, and continue to prepare to help this team win games,” Shurmur said.
Jones, 22, was selected sixth overall in last spring’s draft out of Duke. He opened eyes by completing 29 of 34 passes for 416 yards with two TDs and no INTs in the preseason.
Jones will be the third of 11 QBs picked last spring to start a game joining the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, taken first overall, and the Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew, selected with the 178th pick.
Newton ailing again: The Panthers have “no idea” when QB Cam Newton will play again after he reaggravated a foot injury last Thursday against the Buccaneers.
Newton, 30, suffered a sprained left foot in the Panthers’ third preseason game. The 2015 NFLMVP did not practice Tuesday.
“I have no idea (how long he will be out),” coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday.
Newton has thrown for 572 yards with no touchdowns and one interception this season. If he is unable to play Sunday against the Cardinals, Kyle Allen would start.
Brees says surgery set: Injured Saints QB Drew Brees says he has surgery on his throwing thumb scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles.
In a text message Brees said he is “confident in the surgery that will take place.”
Brees’ rehab is estimated to take about six weeks, but the timeline could change after surgery.
Eagles’ Jackson out: Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is expected to miss two weeks with an abdominal strain, ESPN.com reported.
Jackson, 32, was advised to have surgery, but that would have shelved him for six weeks.
Jackson left in the first half of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Falcons without recording a reception.
Extra points: Jets QB Trevor Siemian is out for the season after suffering an ankle injury in Monday’s loss to the Browns. … With Ben Roethlisberger sidelined for the rest of the season, the Steelers signed QB Paxton Lynch, a former 1st-round pick of the Broncos, to the practice squad.