Giants preparing Fromm for emergency start vs. Chargers
The Giants find themselves in the most unlikely of circumstances within their quarterback room this week.
Daniel Jones has a strained neck, Mike Glennon is in concussion protocol and Jake Fromm, who was on the Bills’ practice squad two weeks ago, is currently in line to start next Sunday at the Chargers in Los Angeles.
To complicate matters, quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski is quarantining due to a positive COVID-19 test. So as the Giants practice at the University of Arizona after playing Sunday in Miami, Fromm is in a tough spot.
If Glennon can’t clear the protocol in time for Sunday’s game, Fromm would be taking his first NFL snaps with just six Giants practices under his belt.
“It’s a lot to learn,” Fromm said Wednesday. “You’re just preparing for a final test where you didn’t show up for any of the classes, but it’s fun. Learning is what I like to do. I love football, love scheme. For me, it’s really fun.”
Offensive quality control coach Nick Williams, who like head coach Joe Judge was an assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama, is leading this week’s quarterback drills in practice. Fromm is also leaning on assistance from Schuplinski via Zoom and phone calls.
Judge said Fromm took the majority of first-team reps Wednesday. The Giants also have Brian Lewerke and Clayton Thorson on the practice squad. They will fly to Los Angeles on Saturday.
“That’s a stadium that from playing in it last year (against the Rams), we found out it’s a warm stadium, kind of a greenhouse effect,” Judge said. “That glass ceiling really locks that heat coming in right there, so we want to stay in a warmer climate, keep our guys out here and it was an opportunity to cut some miles off it in terms of jet lag.”
Judge believes Glennon should be able to play Sunday, but all hands are on deck given the unpredictable nature of concussions.
“We have nothing at this point that would say he wouldn’t clear, so we’ll wait and see where that goes,” Judge said. “But we’re going to prepare Jake as if he’s the starter today.”
A second straight start for Glennon is essentially the most optimistic scenario right now because Jones’ neck injury is lingering.
Jones was a limited practice participant again Wednesday, but he has yet to be cleared for contact. The Giants sent Jones with head athletic trainer Ronnie Brown to Los Angeles on Monday for a second opinion from a neck specialist.
“There’s nothing at this point that we’ve been told that would indicate this would be season-ending,” Judge said.
Glennon was unimpressive in Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Dolphins as he completed just 23-of-44 passes for 187 yards and one interception, which could’ve been two or three more had Miami taken advantage of overly aggressive throws into tight coverages.
Yet the 31-year-old journeyman still represents the Giants’ best option behind Jones given his experience. Glennon has played in 36 games and has been with the team since March, whereas Fromm has seen only preseason action since becoming a fifth-round pick of the Bills last year.
“At this moment, if Mike was healthy and cleared, we would expect Mike to start,” Judge said. “In terms of Jake, again, this is a really good opportunity this week to see him practice and prepare and get a further look at him.”
It’s natural that fans would be intrigued to see Fromm if Jones’ injury ends up being a long-term issue. Fromm was a threeyear starter in the SEC and won plenty of big games including the 2020 Sugar Bowl and the 2018 Rose Bowl.
“I would love it,” Fromm said of the potential he starts against the Chargers. “It would be a dream come true, something I’ve always wanted to do as a kid growing up. Having a chance, especially for an organization like the New York Giants, would be incredible.”
No matter who gets the nod under center, the Giants are likely to be limited in
the receiving game once again. Receivers Kenny Golladay (ribs) and Kadarius Toney (oblique) both did not practice Wednesday.
Starting cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (quad) also sat out of Wednesday’s practice and is in danger of missing his second straight game.
Receiver Sterling Shepard (quad), though, was limited, so there’s a decent chance he plays for the first time since Nov. 1.
“Shep had a really good workout for us
on Sunday,” Judge said. “We’ll see if that turns a corner, if he can get to the game this week. If he can, obviously we would like to have him.”
Quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers could also be shorthanded. No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen and No. 2 receiver Mike Williams are on the COVID-19 list, and according to The Athletic, Williams will definitely miss Sunday’s game because he is unvaccinated. Allen’s status remains up in the air.