Notebook: Drew Lock handling backup role ‘like a pro’

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Drew Lock is not going to further rock the Giants’ boat in what has already been a turbulent week.

Lock remained the team’s No. 2 quarterback as Tommy DeVito leapfrogged him to become the starter Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniel Jones was dropped to No. 3.

When NFL coaches change quarterbacks, it is most often the top backup that becomes the new No. 1. But Brian Daboll reached further into the hierarchy to select DeVito.

Lock is unhappy with the decision, but he respects it and will continue what he’s done all season, doing everything he can to help the Giants win. He expressed his feelings today and has moved on.

“It’s very simple … I was professional,” Lock said. “I didn’t scream, didn’t yell, and I said, ‘Look, I’m going to do everything I can to help. But I can’t sit here and say that I’m not upset about it or disappointed in the decision.

“But obviously, the decision is the decision, and now life moves on.”

Lock joined the Giants on March 13, the same day 2023 backup Tyrod Taylor signed with the Jets.

Before becoming a Giant, Lock spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos (who selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft) and last year with the Seattle Seahawks. He has started 23 of the 28 games in which he played.

Lock missed most of the preseason with a hip injury. His only substantial appearance this season was in a loss to Philadelphia on Oct. 20, when he relieved Jones in the fourth quarter and completed three of eight passes for six yards and was sacked once.

While Lock was the backup for each of the first 10 games, DeVito was in uniform but inactive as the No. 3 quarterback. But when Daboll decided to replace Jones, Lock was not next in line for the starting job, which went to DeVito.

“Two sides of it always,” Lock said. “One, my job is to be there for him now and help him as much as I can this week, help him on the sidelines on Sunday and be a good asset to this team in any way possible. That’s where my head’s at still. But at the same time, the other side of the coin is, if you get to be the backup all year and the time comes and you end up still being a backup, you’re upset. You want to be playing; everybody wants to play. There are two sides to that coin, but the one that I’m going to show here is what’s important.”

DeVito was 3-3 in six starts for the Giants in his 2023 rookie season, which was the key reason Lock said he received for the decision to bypass him.

“Simply put, similar situation last year with him,” Lock said “Felt like the team rallied around him well and gave them a little spark. That’s what they know, that’s what they’ve seen. The time in the preseason. That’s what their decision was based on. That’s what they’re going with.”

Lock was asked if he is confused or disappointed

“Probably both,” he said. “Definitely disappointed. But again, I’ll just keep reiterating, my disappointment will not show one bit, around anyone in this facility or after that meeting upstairs (when he learned of the decision). Obviously, I expressed this with them. But my job is to just tongue and cheek and keep rolling. I’ll handle this like a pro. I’ll be professional. That’s something I pride myself in. I’m not going to be a guy that tears apart the locker room. I’ve got to build it up. I know winning and playing good on Sunday in the quarterback position is good for this team and I’m going to try to help him do everything we can.”