GIANTS TO PART WAYS WITH DANIEL JONES
On Friday, team president John Mara released the following statement on quarterback Daniel Jones:
"Daniel came to see me this morning and asked if we would release him. We mutually agreed that would be best for him and for the team. Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that. We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future."
Jones spoke to the media a day earlier and read a prepared statement before taking questions from reporters.
"The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true and I'm extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here. The Giants are truly a first-class organization, and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who have built it and who helped carry on that tradition. I've met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime. Thank you to all my teammates, coaches and staff that have done so much for me these past six years. There have been some great times but, of course, we all wish there had been more of those.
"I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win more games worse than me, and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation. Of course, this season has been disappointing for all and, of course, I wish I could have done more. I'm 100% accountable for my part. I did not play well enough, consistently enough to help the team get the results. The reality of the NFL is it's hard to win games and it requires consistent performance from everyone involved. We didn't do that well enough. So, the idea to change something happens and I understand. I love the game. I love being part of a team. I'm excited for the next opportunity. I know that there's a lot of good football in front of me and I'm excited about that. To all the fans, I have deep respect and appreciation for your passion and love for the Giants. The fans are a huge part of what makes playing for the Giants so special. Thank you."
DeVITO TAKES OVER
Tommy DeVito will take over as the starting quarterback when the Giants take the field against the Buccaneers this Sunday, while Drew Lock will serve as his backup. There were several factors that went into this decision, but coach Brian Daboll mentioned looking for an offensive spark as one of the primary ones.
"I spoke with all the quarterbacks this morning before our morning meeting and let them know the direction that we're going," Daboll told the media Monday. "Those are never easy conversations. Got a lot of respect for all three of those guys. After evaluating a bunch of things and looking at a lot of tape and being around Tommy last year where he created a little bit of a spark for us, that's the reason why we're going with Tommy. Drew will be the backup. Continue to work with him. He's been nothing but a pro and as was Daniel. It's never an easy conversation to have with the players. But felt like this was a necessary move for us and look forward to working with Tommy and getting him ready to go against Tampa."
DeVito started six games for the Giants in 2023 and led them to a 3-3 record. Overall, he played in nine games and completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 1,101 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions for an 89.2 passer rating. DeVito also added some production on the ground with 36 rush attempts for 195 yards (5.4 avg.) and an additional score. During his time as the starter last year, DeVito was twice named the Pepsi Rookie of the Week.
"He's out there practicing and taking show team reps and doing those type of things," Daboll said Monday. "I think he has good fundamentals and he's got a good, quick release. But it's really some of the things in the meeting room when you're talking about tape, you're talking about pressure packages or re-identifications or checks and things like that. He's played almost 700 snaps for us, preseason and regular season included. So, experience helps. We'll do everything we can to get him ready."
Daboll added Wednesday, "He was 3-3 for us when he played, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, still learning the ropes as he played. He's got good leadership about him. I think he's a year into the system where he understands things even more. He's done a good job since he's been here, really since we had him last year and we'll work as hard as we can with him so he can be as ready to go."
INJURY REPORT
Giants
Questionable: WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), ILB Micah McFadden (Heel), ILB Darius Muasau (Hamstring), WR Malik Nabers (Groin), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Wrist)
Buccaneers
Out: DB Tykee Smith (Knee)
Doubtful: T Tristan Wirfs (Knee/Foot)
Questionable: CB Jamel Dean (Hamstring), WR Mike Evans (Hamstring), NT Greg Gaines (Foot), CB Troy Hill (Ankle/Foot), CB Zyon McCollum (Hamstring)
ALL-TIME SERIES
After their bye week, the Giants (2-8) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) for their second consecutive matchup against the NFC South on Sunday, Nov. 24 in MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
Sunday's game will be the 25th regular season meeting between the Giants and Buccaneers, with the Giants holding a 15-9 series lead. The Giants won the only playoff game played between these two franchises, 24-14, on Jan. 1, 2008.
The Giants most recent home victory over the Buccaneers came in 2018 by a score of 38-35. QB Eli Manning threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns while RB Saquon Barkley carried the ball 27 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
BOUNCE BACK FROM TRACY
It's been an encouraging start to the career of running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. After playing limited snaps over the first four games, the rookie was given the chance to lead the backfield in Week 5 with Devin Singletary sidelined due to a groin injury. Tracy took advantage of his opportunity with a big game in Seattle and hasn't looked back.
The 24-year-old has four games with 100 or more total yards of offense since taking over as the lead back, including three outings with over 100 rushing yards. He also averaged 5.7 yards per carry or more in all three of those games, and has been nominated for Rookie of the Week on four different occasions.
However, it hasn't been all positive for Tracy. The last time we saw the rookie back on the field in Munich, he fumbled on the opening play of overtime. This led to the Panthers' game-winning field goal and the Giants' eighth loss of the season.
"This is a young player for us that really gives everything he has and cares a lot about his team and about his role on this team," Daboll said about Tracy last Monday ahead of the bye. "He's done a nice job for us. It was unfortunate there at the end with the fumble, but he's a young man that'll bounce back. He's got the right attitude, been a productive player in recent weeks for us. I got a lot of confidence in him."
GIANTS 'ENCOURAGED' BY POTENTIAL KAYVON RETURN
Prior to their Week 11 bye, the Giants led the NFL with their 36 sacks. Heading into this weekend's matchup, the Giants still rank second in sacks, just three behind the Denver Broncos, who have played one more game. The Giants were able to do this despite not having starting outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux for half of the season.
Thibodeaux was designated to return from injured reserve and took the practice field on Wednesday for the first time since Week 5. Daboll told the media Thursday he's "encouraged" by what he's seen out of the third-year linebacker, who has a good chance of returning to game action on Sunday. In Thibodeaux's place, Azeez Ojulari stepped up with five sacks over the last five games. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen told the media Thursday that he'll be happy to figure out the best way to use Brian Burns, Ojulari and Thibodeaux if the latter is in fact able to play this weekend.
"It's a good problem to have," defensive coordinator Shane Bowen told reporters Thursday. "Obviously with Azeez coming on and the impact he's been able to have for us, he's earned the opportunity to play. So, it's really good getting Kayvon back out there, seeing him going back through it, kind of see where it progresses with him this week, see where we're at come Sunday. But optimistic with him, and we'll see where it goes. But it's a good problem to have."
View photos of the Giants on the practice field at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
NABERS DISCUSSES CHEMISTRY WITH DeVITO
While wide receiver Malik Nabers will be catching passes from Tommy DeVito in a regular-season game for the first time this Sunday against the Buccaneers, the two are far from strangers. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was asked Thursday about the developing connection between the young quarterback and rookie wide receiver, a relationship that has been growing for a while now.
"They've been teammates here this whole season, so it's not like the first time they were talking to each other was yesterday," assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said this week. "I think they're good friends. I think they're good buddies. I think as they just continue to talk more on the field, talk about certain routes and the timing of those things, whether they're talking about it or repping it out on a different field, I think all those things will add up and will continue to add up."
Nabers spoke to the media on Thursday, as well, and the rookie wide receiver shared no concerns about establishing chemistry with his new starting quarterback.
"I took a couple of reps with him during camp," the rookie receiver said. "I know he got a steamer for an arm, so I got some catches with him after practice. Relationship with me and DeVito is cool. We talk, play the game, so we got a good relationship."
Nabers added, "I mean at the end of the day, it's still throw the football, catch the ball. So, I get open pretty well, I create a lot of separation. So, I'm sure he's going to be able to see me on different routes. When I get open, he's going to be able to deliver the ball."
OPPORTUNITY FOR BURNS
Going up against his former team in Munich, Brian Burns had perhaps his best game of the season in Week 10. Burns picked up his sixth sack of the season to go with two tackles for loss and a season-high nine total tackles (four solo). The veteran outside linebacker also finished with seven total pressures, according to NGS, which matched his career-high. He did this on just 25 pass rushes for an impressive 28.0 percent pressure rate. Four of his pressures came in under 2.5 seconds, which gives him 21 quick pressures on the season, tied for the fifth-most in the league.
Burns lined up on the left EDGE on 69.5 percent of his snaps through the first five weeks of the season. But following the injury to Kayvon Thibodeaux in Week 5, Burns has played 82.1 percent of his snaps on the right EDGE. It is still too early to tell if Thibodeaux will be able to return for Sunday's game, but if he doesn't, Burns could be looking at another positive matchup.
Buccaneers three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs suffered a knee injury in Week 10, which head coach Todd Bowles classified as "week-to-week." If Wirfs is unable to go, Justin Skule will start in his place. Skule has allowed 20 pressures on 170 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NGS. His 11.8 percent pressure rate allowed is the highest of any Buccaneers offensive lineman, while his 4.4 percent sack rate allowed is the highest by any offensive lineman in the NFL with at least 150 pass blocking snaps.
BAKER'S 'DOING A GOOD JOB DISTRIBUTING'
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is putting together a breakout campaign in his second season with the Buccaneers. The seventh-year quarterback has completed a career-high 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,505 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a 103.6 passer rating, also the best mark of his NFL career. Mayfield has also contributed on the ground with 36 carries for 192 yards (5.3 avg.) and an additional two touchdowns. The veteran signal-caller has thrown three or more touchdown passes in an impressive five of 10 games this year.
What's even more impressive is that he produced over the Buccaneers' last three games prior to the bye despite not having Chris Godwin or Mike Evans out there with him. While Godwin is out for the season, Evans appears to be on track to suit up Sunday, thus giving Mayfield his top target in the passing game.
"He's having a really good year," Bowen said about Mayfield. "Again, the ability to create is always there with him, to extend plays, to scramble, he's going to take the open lanes. If those are there, he's doing a good job distributing, getting the ball in guys' hands. They've done a really good job after the catch. I think their perimeter players, running backs, they've all done a really good job after the catch.
"He's going to take his shots; he's going to find ways to get it to Evans down the field. We understand that. But I think he's comfortable in the system and it shows. Knowing where to go with the ball, he's including everybody. So, it's going to be a big challenge for us. He's playing at a really high level right now. I think he's top five in just about every category quarterback-wise. He's got a lot of weapons. I think the two backs, how they utilize them, not only in the run game but also in the passing game with the screens and some of that stuff, they've got a lot of ways they can attack you."
SCOUTING THE REST OF THE BUCCANEERS
The Buccaneers have lost four consecutive games after starting the season 4-2. The Buccaneers' offense enters this matchup ranking fifth in points and eighth in yards, while the defense comes in at No. 27 in points and No. 30 in yards allowed. This offense is particularly strong in the red zone, where they have scored a touchdown on 68.4 percent of their trips inside the 20, the third-best mark in the NFL.
Tampa Bay lost their top two pass-catchers in their Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While Chris Godwin was lost for the season, fellow wide receiver Mike Evans appears set to return to action this weekend. In seven games before the injury, Evans caught 26 passes for 335 yards and played a large role in the Buccaneers' success in the red zone, evidenced by his six touchdowns. In the absence of the two wideouts, tight end Cade Otton stepped up in a big way. Of the Buccaneers' active pass-catchers, Otton leads the group with 49 receptions for 456 yards to go with his four touchdowns.
Tampa Bay also has a two-headed attack in the run game featuring Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. Irving leads the team in rushing with 492 yards on 96 carries (5.1 avg.), ranking second among rookies in rushing yards on the season. White has been more productive as a receiver, catching 37 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns, while also totaling 306 yards on the ground.
The Buccaneers' defense has allowed an average of 31.3 points during the team's four-game losing streak and no less than 380 total yards of offense in each game during that stretch. The unit ranks 30th in passing yards and 29th in passing touchdowns allowed, while the run defense ranks 28th in rushing yards per attempt.
Nose tackle Vita Vea leads the unit with five sacks on the season, while defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (four sacks), linebacker Lavonte David (three) and defensive lineman Logan Hall (three) are right behind him. Rookie safety Tykee Smith has registered a team-high three interceptions, while cornerback Zyon McCollum has the most pass breakups on the team with 10. Smith was ruled out for the Week 12 matchup on Friday.
The Buccaneers also opened the 21-day practice window for starting cornerback Jamel Dean earlier this week. Dean has been on injured reserve since Week 6 due to a hamstring injury, but could return to game action for Tampa Bay this Sunday.
View photos from the all-time series between the Giants and Buccaneers.
Giants 100th season book on sale now
"New York Football Giants: The People, The Moments, The Traditions" is available now exclusively at the Giants online shop. The book explores the team's greatest players, unforgettable games and stories that have defined the franchise for the last century.