Giants replace Manning with top pick Jones
And just like NEW YORK — that, Eli Manning’s Giants have become Daniel Jones’ Giants.
The team announced Tuesday morning that the rookie quarterback will start in place of Manning on Sunday in a Week 3 game against the Buccaneers in Tampa. It is a transition that seemed inevitable when they drafted Jones with the sixth overall pick in April, yet comes as a bit of a shock this early.
But after two consecutive uninspiring losses, coach Pat Shurmur said he made the decision in an effort to help the team win now.
“Ultimately, this is a move that I felt was best for this team at this time,” Shurmur said through the team’s website. “This move is more about Daniel moving forward than about Eli.”
Shurmur said on Monday that he was considering a change at quarterback and did not commit to Manning as his Week 3 starter. By Tuesday morning he’d made his decision.
“Eli and I spoke (Tuesday) morning,” Shurmur said. “I told him that we are making a change and going with Daniel as the starter. I also talked to Daniel. 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. Daniel understands the challenge at hand, and he will be ready to play on Sunday.”
This will be only the second time since Manning first became the starting quarterback in 2004 that he will not start a regular-season game. He was benched for one game late in 2017 in favor of Geno Smith. That move ended a streak of 210 consecutive starts, created a public uproar, and led to the firing of head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese the day after the game. Manning was quickly reinstalled to start the final four games of that season, all 16 in 2018, and the first two this season.
This change likely will be more permanent. And, if Jones lives up to what the Giants believe he can be, it may save the jobs of the head coach and general manager rather than lead to their dismissal. starting safety Sean Davis suffered a shoulder injury against Seattle last weekend that sent him to injured reserve, though there’s a chance Davis could return later this season.
The Steelers also received a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft in the deal that brought in Fitzpatrick, the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft who’d grown frustrated with his role with the rebuilding Dolphins. Pittsburgh sent a first-round and fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2021 draft to Miami. ASSOCIATED PRESS