Drew Lock to start at quarterback for Giants vs. Saints
Giants quarterback Drew Lock throws against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL game in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday. Credit: AP/Jerome Miron
If this Giants season wasn’t strange or disappointing enough, consider this fact: Drew Lock started a game at quarterback before he started an official practice.
Lock participated in a walkthrough last week prior to the Giants’ loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Now, he’ll get a normal week to prepare after being named the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Saints at MetLife Stadium.
It’ll be a chance for redemption after an inconsistent performance where Lock didn’t throw a touchdown, unless one counts the pick-six to DeMarvion Overshown. He also had a fumble while being sacked, which led to another Cowboys scoring drive.
However, coach Brian Daboll found the positives in a game where Lock went 21-for-32 for 178 yards and showed off his mobility, running for 57 yards on four carries.
“Drew did some good stuff in Dallas. He also did some things that he can improve on,” Daboll said. “I want to give him a full week of preparation, practice, let him go out there and play this week.”
For Lock, Wednesday was a chance to develop rhythm with his fellow starters. He took all of the first-team reps, with Tommy DeVito improving but still recovering from a right forearm injury.
DeVito was limited in practice but, if he’s healthy, Daboll said he’ll be Lock’s backup. If not, Tim Boyle will be the backup.
Either way, it’s Lock’s show and he didn’t feel as rushed as he may have just a week ago.
“I think the reps help a ton. I'd say anybody in this position would say the same thing,” Lock said. “Getting back out there, letting them hear your cadence, letting them hear you calling it in the huddle, rhythm and timing with the receivers, even rhythm and timing for me with my feet on certain plays, whatever we've got up this week, it helps tremendously.”
Of course, it hasn’t mattered who’s under center with the Giants on this seven-game losing streak. The offense is the league’s worst in scoring (15.3 points) and second-worst in passing yards per game (183.2).
If there’s a saving grace? The Saints come to town with the league’s fourth-worst passing defense (249.1) and third-worst total defense in yards allowed (385.1).
So, there's ample room for the Giants to try and find a jolt under Lock. Recent history is also on his side.
Last season, he lost his debut start with the Seahawks, which also came after a short week of preparation. The second game? Lock defeated the Eagles by leading a game-winning drive and throwing the go-ahead touchdown pass with 28 seconds left.
“Being able to have a full week, you pick up some little details that you might not have picked up when you're not the guy out there practicing and running it,” Lock said. “I think I've got to dive into that this week, watch the tape over and over again from practice and just figure out how I can operate this offense the best and lead us down the field to score.”
The Giants have used three quarterbacks this season. As rough as that’s been, maybe they’re fortunate it’s not a new phenomenon to leading receiver Malik Nabers.
As an LSU freshman in 2021, he played with three quarterbacks - Max Johnson, Garrett Nussmeier and Jontre Kirklin. A fourth, Myles Brennan, suffered a season-ending injury in preseason camp.
“Every quarterback has a different spin on the ball,” Nabers said. “But as long as you can just try to get a good key on how they throw the ball, get some catches after practice with them, just try to figure out how you can grip their ball, that’s really it.”
Daboll gave Lock credit for being prepared since joining the team. Now, it’s just a matter of hoping more time to prepare as the official starter brings a different, and better, result Sunday.
“The realistic side to that is it's football, this game's hard,” Lock said. “But I'm confident that having a week of practice and being able to go out there and play, there's going to be some things that I do better. Hopefully I can scramble for as much as I did last time.”
Notes and quotes: RT Evan Neal (hip), LB Bobby Okereke (back) CB Deonte Banks (rib), DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder), and LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) did not practice Wednesday. Daboll said all five are “week-to-week” but have a chance to play Sunday…Tight end Theo Johnson had surgery on his foot Tuesday, a day after being placed on IR. Dexter Lawrence avoided surgery on his dislocated left elbow but it remains swollen, Daboll said.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
More Giants
