Giants bench Eli, name rookie Jones as starting QB


Reuters | Washington DC | Updated: 17-09-2019 19:59 IST | Created: 17-09-2019 19:55 IST
Giants bench Eli, name rookie Jones as starting QB
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New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur named Daniel Jones as the team's starting quarterback for Week 3, sending Eli Manning to the backup role after an 0-2 start to the 2019 season. "Eli and I spoke this morning," Shurmur said Tuesday. "I told him that we are making a change and going with Daniel as the starter. I also talked to Daniel. Eli was obviously disappointed, as you would expect, but he said he would be what he has always been, a good teammate, and continue to prepare to help this team win games. Daniel understands the challenge at hand, and he will be ready to play on Sunday."

The Giants play the Buccaneers (1-1) on Sunday in Tampa to kick off the Jones Era. Manning, 37, won two Super Bowls with the Giants and was the top overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. The Giants acquired Manning from the Chargers on draft day for Philip Rivers.

Shurmur planted the seed for a change at the position on Monday, when he said all positions were going to be reviewed. The Giants lost at home to Buffalo on Sunday after dropping the opener to the Dallas Cowboys.

Manning completed 56 of 89 passes for 556 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Jones was selected with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He sparkled in the preseason, setting up a potential in-season conflict with Manning. Jones was 29-for-34 passing for 416 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions over four preseason games.

Manning said Sunday he was disappointed the team was 0-2 and took his share of the blame for not getting the job done despite the offense averaging 420 yards per game. The Giants have only four touchdowns this season. "When you're 0-2, there's pressure on everybody. You can't have that affect you. I've got to make better throws, better plays, find ways to convert on third downs. That's the quarterback's job," Manning said Sunday.

Also Read: Shurmur non-committal on Eli Manning as Giants' starter

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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