Many members of the NFL community have assumed since the New York Giants fell to 2-8 on the season via last Sunday’s loss to the 3-7 Carolina Panthers that the Giants will bench quarterback Daniel Jones coming off their Week 11 bye so they can release him during the upcoming offseason.
During a Friday appearance on “The Dan LeBatard Show,” league insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Jones could remain New York’s starter through at least the beginning of the Week 12 home game versus the 4-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“At this point, from what I’ve been hearing in the conversations that I’ve had, Daniel Jones may be staying as the starting quarterback here for a few more weeks. I’m not sure this is completely done,” Russini explained. “We’re going to know more this weekend, though, when they come back from their bye and they meet with their quarterbacks.”
Giants head coach Brian Daboll left little doubt from Week 1 through the Carolina game that he felt Jones gave New York the best chance to win over primary backup Drew Lock and QB3 Tommy DeVito.
Nevertheless, ESPN stats show that the Giants will enter the weekend ranked last in the NFL with an average of 15.6 points scored per game. Thus, fans have suggested New York’s offense can’t look all that worse with either Lock or DeVito in the lineup.
The injury guarantee for 2025 attached to Jones’ contract would get triggered if he gets hurt to the point that he is unable to pass a physical when the new league year opens in March. With that said, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen may need the Giants to win at least three of their final seven games to ensure team co-owner John Mara doesn’t blow things up come January.
“You’ve got Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll,” Russini continued. “Despite the fact that they got the ‘vote of confidence’ from their owner, John Mara, it may appear that they’re safe, but we know how this goes.”
Russini added it could be “really hard” for Mara to justify running it back with Daboll and Schoen if the Giants continue to lose and play “ugly football” through Week 18.
Things could get very interesting at MetLife Stadium on the afternoon of Nov. 24 if Jones starts and struggles versus the Tampa Bay defense.
