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Giants’ Daboll says injured Tommy DeVito won’t be able to play at 100% on Thursday


Giants’ Daboll says injured Tommy DeVito won’t be able to play at 100% on Thursday

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is “not 100% ready” to play against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving due to a forearm injury, according to coach Brian Daboll.

Daboll is “hopeful” DeVito will be ready to make his second start since replacing Daniel Jones. DeVito was projected to be a limited participant in Tuesday’s walk-through practice as the Giants try to avoid a six-game deficit.

“The plan is to play,” DeVito said afterwards. “Yeah, see how I feel (Wednesday). Hopefully I’ll wake up feeling a little better after I get some more treatment.”

DeVito will start when he is healthy enough to play. Backup Drew Lock will take some reps at practice just in case.

The Giants (2-9) have a short week with just four days between games. That gives DeVito, who took several hard hits in Sunday’s 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, limited time to prove he’s fit to play.

“He threw in the walk-through,” Daboll said. “I wouldn’t say it’s the timing or the great depth or the speed, but he incorporated a walk-through. He’ll test it in practice here (Tuesday) in another walk-through, so I’m hopeful, but it’s not 100 percent.

DeVito was not included on Monday’s scheduled injury report.

“Just this morning, like today, he was out there with his sleeve on and I said, ‘Are you OK?'” Daboll said. “He says, ‘Yeah, I’m fine. I’m doing well. I’m feeling a little sore.’”

But DeVito said after Tuesday’s walk-through that he still wasn’t sure if he could throw at full speed yet. His body was still feeling the effects of four sacks and nine quarterback hits on Sunday.

“I think if it were a normal week, Tuesday is usually when things settle into the body. If you get hit on Sunday, Monday is usually a bit sore; Tuesday is usually the worst day,” DeVito said. “So it usually helps to have an extra four or five days afterward, whatever it may be. But obviously it’s a lot different this week, so I’m looking forward to (Wednesday).”

DeVito was surprisingly named the Giants’ starting quarterback last Monday in place of Jones after spending the first 10 games of the season as a third-stringer. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 189 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against the Bucs.

But the second-year undrafted free agent suffered some big losses in the competition. He left the game on the final drive before returning one play later. DeVito then suffered another serious blow before time expired.

“He’s just a little banged up. I think he took the wind out of him back there,” Daboll said. “He fired a few shots. Hopefully he’s okay.”

The Giants now clearly have questions about whether that is the case. In a normal week, Daboll gives the starting quarterback all the first-team snaps at practice.

Lock took some first-team snaps on Tuesday. It was different than a normal week.

“More than zero reps,” Lock said, half-joking.

The Giants need to cover all of their bases just in case.

“I’m going to take a few snaps of Drew here and see,” Daboll said. “We’re moving on and we’ve got a lot of time for the sightseeing, the stuff we’ve put in. We just had one earlier (Tuesday), so I’ll give Drew a few of those.

“But if Tommy is good, then Tommy will be the guy.”

As the Giants prepare to face the Cowboys, they will be without fullback Azeez Ojulari, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a toe injury he suffered Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Ojulari has six sacks despite just five starts this season and is on the verge of becoming a free agent. His roster spot was taken by former Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich, who was claimed off waivers on Wednesday.

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