Tommy DeVito may miss Giants vs. Cowboys on Thanksgiving because of a sore throwing arm
Tommy DeVito of the New York Giants throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Might "Cutlets" be off the menu for Thanksgiving Day?
That possibility seemed very much in play for the Giants on Tuesday in advance of their game Thursday against the Cowboys in Texas.
Coach Brian Daboll revealed before a walkthrough that quarterback Tommy DeVito, whose nickname is “Cutlets,” has a sore right (throwing) forearm. His status for Thursday is unclear.
DeVito, who started the first game of his second season on Sunday – a 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers – said “the plan is to play.”
But after not appearing on the injury report on Monday, DeVito showed up for work on Tuesday wearing a protective sleeve on his arm, catching Daboll’s attention.
He shared first-team snaps with backup Drew Lock in the walkthrough. Later, he appeared on the injury report as having practiced on a limited basis.
“His forearm is sore,” Daboll said. “We’ll see where we’re at . . . I’m hopeful, but it’s not 100%.”
DeVito took a beating on Sunday, and he left the game for a play in the fourth quarter. He said he was not certain when and how he got hurt, other than that it was late in the game.
He called it a cumulative problem, “kind of just adding up all the hits.” DeVito was 21-for-31 for 189 yards and was sacked four times.
How is his arm?
“Sore,” he said. “My whole body's kind of sore. First time playing in a while, took a couple shots. It's not even 48 hours, so things are still kind of just settling in.”
DeVito said he hoped to wake up feeling better on Wednesday. He said Tuesday is a key day for physical recovery most weeks, but with the short week he had to get back to work rather than fully rest.
He said the walkthrough was of limited use in assessing his status.
“We don't really throw intently or urgently or anything like that,” he said, “so I wasn't able to get a great gauge of that, but tomorrow (Wednesday) I will.”
DeVito described the injury as “like a bruise.”
DeVito went 3-3 as a starter last season, beginning with a 49-17 loss to the Cowboys in Texas. He was tabbed last Monday to replace Daniel Jones, who was released Friday.
Lock said he had “more than zero reps” with the first team in the walkthrough. “Got a couple of reps,” he said. “Just taking it day by day.”
Lock admitted last week to being disappointed when he was passed over when DeVito took the starting job from Jones last week.
Lock was in for one play against Tampa Bay and completed a 3-yard pass to Tyrone Tracy Jr.
“Just typical of the job,” Lock said. “Always got to be ready. No matter what the week, no matter what the situation is, just playing like you're going to go in there and play.
“My mindset didn't change this week, and we'll see how the rest of the week shakes out.”
The official decision on DeVito’s status could come Wednesday, or it might wait until game day.
“I think if it was a regular week, it's Tuesdays usually when things settle into your body, when you get hit on Sundays,” he said. “Usually Mondays, a little sore. Tuesdays are usually the worst day.
“So, having an extra four or five days after that usually help. But obviously this week it's very different, so that's why I'm looking forward to (Wednesday).”
Notes & quotes: LB Azeez Ojulari (toe) was placed on injured reserve and will miss the next four games. The Giants claimed TE Greg Dulcich off waivers from the Broncos to take his place on the roster. Dulcich was a third-round pick in 2022 with 41 career receptions for 464 yards and two TDs . . . LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) was projected not to participate and RT Eval Neal (hip) would have been limited if it had been a normal practice rather than the walk-through on Tuesday.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
