Add ex-Cal QB Webb to Giants’ backup mix
The fight for the New York Giants’ backup quarterback job is taking on a new dimension.
Heading into the preseason opener, 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 head coach Ben McAdoo’s system as the No. 3 quarterback.
Neither Smith nor Johnson thrived in the Giants’ loss to Pittsburgh last Friday. On Thursday, McAdoo left the door open for Webb, who played for Cal last season, to fight for the No. 2 job.
McAdoo said Webb is getting more snaps in training camp.
Since the Giants opened camp, Smith and Johnson seemed to be competing 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 or Johnson to win the backup job.
In the 20-12 loss to the Steelers, Johnson started and completed 5 of 10 passes for 31 yards with a long of 9 yards. He was sacked three times.
Smith got off to a quick start after replacing him, hitting 10 of 16 passes for 114 yards, with a long of 21 yards. However, he threw a bad interception and had another pick nullified by a penalty. He also was sacked three times.
Webb, who didn’t play until the fourth quarter, was 8-for-16 for 67 yards with a long of 19 and no turnovers. Browns’ Jackson clarifies: After being criticized for appearing to discourage his players from displaying any form of protest prior to games by saying “I would hope we don’t have those issues,” Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson clarified his remarks in a statement he read Thursday.
“The intent of my comments was not to discourage individual expression from our players in light of a cause that moves them to personal expression,” Jackson said. “... However, my words did reflect my concern that I would express to any player about protesting during the anthem . ... I would respect any individual decision as hopefully it would be the player’s choice after much thoughtful dialogue.” Buccaneers, 12, Jaguars 8: Jameis Winston continued his solid preseason, completing 21 of 29 passes for 196 yards as Tampa Bay beat host Jacksonville. The Bucs scored on their first three possessions and dominated Jacksonville in the two quarters that featured mostly starters. Jacksonville’s night was so bad that it seemingly has open competitions at quarterback and placekicker. Eagles 20, Bills 16: Ronald Darby intercepted former teammate Tyrod Taylor and returned it 48 yards and also broke up two passes in his first game since Philadelphia acquired him from Buffalo last week. Before the game in Philadelphia, Eagles defensive end Chris Long, who grew up in Charlottesville, Va., put his arm around teammate Malcolm Jenkins during the national anthem as a show of unity while the safety stood with his right fist raised, as he has done since last season. Ravens 31, Miami 7: In his Miami debut, Jay Cutler played the first two series in the loss to visiting Baltimore. Cutler completed 3 of 6 passes for 24 yards for Miami. Ryan Mallett threw for 113 yards and Josh Woodrum ran for two TDs for the Ravens.