Giants bench Eli; Jones to start at QB
Eli Manning’s run as the starting quarterback for the Giants is over after almost 15 years, as rookie Daniel Jones will take over Sunday on the road against the Buccaneers.
The move comes less than 24 hours after coach Pat Shurmur refused to say Manning would remain the starter following two consecutive losses, the sixth time in seven years New York has gotten off to a 0-2 start.
Manning, 38, has made a franchise record 232 starts since replacing Kurt Warner in November 2004 during his rookie season. He has collected a pair of Super Bowl MVPs and rewritten the franchise record book during a 16-season run.
Jones was the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft, out of Duke. He had a strong spring and summer, completing 85.3 percent of his passes in the preseason with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Manning is in the final year of a four-year, $84 million contract that includes a no-trade clause. His salary cap hit this season is $23.2 million.
In two games, Manning completed 56 of 89 passes for 556 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 78.7. But the Giants have scored only four touchdowns, despite averaging 420 yards.
♦ Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson is expected to miss two weeks with an abdominal strain. Receiver Alshon Jeffery also could miss Sunday’s game against the Lions after suffering a calf injury early against Atlanta.
♦ Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has re-aggravated a mid-foot sprain injury and did not attend practice, making his status unclear for this week’s game at Arizona.
♦ The Lions released veteran running back C.J. Anderson and picked up running back Paul Perkins off waivers from the Giants. Anderson had 16 carries for 43 yards in two games.
♦ Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, diagnosed last week with mononucleosis, said he feels better and hopes to return to the lineup in Week 5 against the Eagles. Backup Trevor Siemian is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury and Luke Falk will be the starter until Darnold returns from illness.
♦ The Patriots put starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn on injured reserve with a toe injury. The earliest Wynn could play is Nov. 17 against the Eagles.
♦ Cornerback Jalen Ramsey wants to be traded but also wants to play Thursday night if he’s still a member of the Jaguars.
♦ Injured Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he will have surgery on his throwing thumb on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
♦ With tight end Hunter Henry out because of a knee injury, the Chargers signed veteran tight end Lance Kendricks.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Davie expects to return Sept. 28
New Mexico coach Bob Davie expects to be back on the sideline Sept. 28 at Liberty as he continues to recover from a serious medical incident following the season opener.
The former Notre Dame coach, who was hospitalized Aug. 31 after coaching the opening game, has not revealed the nature of his medical condition.