New York Giants quarterback Kyle Lauletta isn’t concerned with Daniel Jones, the projected Eli Manning heir who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, instead focusing on his recovery from an offseason knee surgery.
“It’s been frustrating getting it back and feeling like I’m good to go, then slowing it back down and going through the rehab process,” Lauletta told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. “Everything is good now. Everything feels great.
“All I can do right now is control me and get my knee back and work hard. I know the player I can be. I’ve just got to get to work and reach my full potential, and when I get an opportunity on the field, show them what I can do.”
Lauletta has yet to participate in the team’s offseason workout program and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to take part in the upcoming organized team activities (OTAs), but he’s not dismayed.
“In the classroom, I’m getting all the reps,” Lauletta said. “The whole offseason I’ve worked hard throwing when I could, so I’ll be ready to go. We are going to play it by ear.
“I want to come back and do as much as I can because it feels good, but the more you do, the more it’s going to swell. I’m just trying to manage that.”
Although the presence of Jones likely means the end of Lauletta’s Giants career, the sophomore quarterback views it as nothing more than additional competition.
In fact, Lauletta views Jones not as Manning’s No. 2, but his own No. 2.
“In this league there are always going to be guys behind you, and guys are always going to be competing for jobs,” Lauletta said. “We just bring another piece into it. Another great quarterback in the room. We’ll grow together, and do the best we can to compete and put a winning team out on the field.”
Given Manning’s presence as starter, the investment into Jones and the team’s desire for a veteran backup, Lauletta’s days do, in fact, appear numbers, but he’s going to approach it as a competition and that’s a positive thing for the Giants.
