Notebook: Tommy DeVito returns as starting QB

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants’ quarterback carousel took another turn today as the team continues to grapple with injuries in the final quarter of the season.

After two spins with Drew Lock, Brian Daboll said that Tommy DeVito will return as the starting quarterback when the Giants host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in MetLife Stadium. DeVito started against Tampa Bay on Nov. 24, the first game after the bye week and Daniel Jones’ release. He injured his throwing forearm in that game, and Lock started the next two games, at Dallas on Thanksgiving and last week vs. New Orleans. But Lock suffered a heel injury and is wearing a boot. He also has a left elbow injury.

“He won’t be out on the practice field today,” Daboll said. “Can’t tell you if he’d be ready to go (in the game) right now. So, Tommy will get all the reps. … Can’t see him (Lock) going tomorrow. Hopefully, Friday we can see whether or not he can end up being a two or a three (second or third quarterback on Sunday). But, not there yet as of today.”

So, it’s back to DeVito, who has completed 21 of 31 passes for 189 yards with neither a touchdown nor an interception this season. If Lock is not ready to be the backup, Tim Boyle will be No. 2. Boyle was re-signed to the practice squad yesterday.

“I’m all healthy now – 100 percent,” DeVito said. “I feel pretty good right now.”

When asked to describe what it’s like to assume the starting job, lose it and then get it back again, DeVito chose another amusement park ride.

“It’s just a roller coaster,” he said. “But it’s part of the process, part of the journey. I’m just staying even keeled through it all and just continuing to keep my head down and work.

“You always got to be ready for whatever happens. Obviously, it’s been a little bit of a crazy situation this whole year with everything that’s gone on. So, there’s almost no surprises at this point. You just got to stay ready. Whoever’s out there, whatever number is going to be out there and ready to be called, we’re going to go out there and support them. Right now, it’s me. So, I’m going to go out there and play for everybody in the locker room.”

Quarterback is not the only position affected by injuries. The Giants today put safety Tyler Nubin on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The rookie second-round draft choice leads the Giants and all NFL rookies with 97 tackles (57 solo). It’s the second week in a row the Giants have lost the player who topped their tackle chart. Bobby Okereke has a back injury that forced him out of the lineup against New Orleans, the first game he missed in two seasons with the Giants,

Dane Belton took over for Nubin last week and is expected to start this week.

“Definitely ready,” said Belton, who was limited in practice with a knee injury. “Just want to take advantage of the opportunity. That’s all you can do.”

And then there’s the offensive line. The Giants started the same five linemen in each of the season’s first six games. But Andrew Thomas sustained a season-ending foot injury against Cincinnati on Oct. 13 and since then the changes up front have been constant. On Sunday, the Giants will start their sixth different O-line combination in eight games.

Left guard Jon Runyan, Jr. played the first 845 snaps of the season before injuring his ankle against the Saints. “I don’t think he’ll make this week,” Daboll said. “Could be longer but I don’t think he’s going to make this week.”

Aaron Stinnie stepped in to play his first 44 offensive snaps of the season and will presumably start Sunday. Evan Neal played every snap at right tackle in each of the last four games, but did not practice today because of hip and ankle injuries. Three other tackles were limited – Jermaine Eluemunor (quad), Chris Hubbard (knee) and Joshua Ezeudu (knee).

“Jermaine (who missed the last two games), he’s made good progress,” Daboll said. “Hubbard, he’ll do some stuff today. Get a feel for it as it goes on. But, probably more optimistic with Jermaine. I think we’ll see where we’re at with Hubbard.”

There’s more. Center John Michael Schmitz was also limited, as was guard Austin Schlottmann, whose 21-day window to return from injured reserve opened today. He fractured his fibula in the preseason.

“That’s where we’re at,” Daboll said. “So, we’ll do a good job of getting these guys ready and make sure they got everything down gameplan wise and go out there and compete as hard as we can.”