Giants bench Manning, will start rookie Jones
Eli Manning’s long reign as the Giants’ starting quarterback is seemingly over. Let the Daniel Jones era begin.
Head coach Pat Shurmur announced Tuesday that the sixth overall pick in the NFL draft is replacing the twotime Super Bowl MVP as the Giants’ quarterback, beginning Sunday at Tampa Bay. This is the sixth time in seven years that New York has started 02.
Manning, 38, has been the Giants’ starter since replacing Kurt Warner after nine games in the 2004 season, the year Manning was traded to New York by San Diego after it took him with the top overall pick.
He led the Giants to Super Bowl titles following the 2007 and ’11 seasons, beating Tom Brady’s Patriots both times.
“Eli and I spoke this morning,” Shurmur said. “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.”
The Giants players had Tuesday off and Manning was not available for comment.
Manning is in the last year of a fouryear, $84 million contract with a notrade clause.
In two games, Manning completed 56 of 89 passes for 556 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for a 78.7 passer rating. The Giants have only four touchdowns despite averaging 420 yards.
Anderson cut: The Lions released exCal running back C.J. Anderson, cutting ties with a player who helped the Rams reach the Super Bowl.
Detroit added running back Paul Perkins off waivers from the Giants. The Lions also signed quarterback Jeff Driskel, a former 49ers draft pick, and released Josh Johnson (Oakland Tech).
Anderson ran for 43 yards on 16 carries in two games, backing up Kerryon Johnson.
Briefly: Injured New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees says he’ll have surgery on his throwing thumb Wednesday in Los Angeles . ... The status of Carolina quarterback Cam Newton for Sunday’s game at Arizona is uncertain after the 2015 league MVP aggravated a midfoot sprain . ... Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian is out for the season with an ankle injury, and Luke Falk will start until Sam Darnold returns from mononucleosis.