Eli Manning’s time is up as the starting quarterback for the 0-2 New York Giants. The team announced Tuesday that two games into Manning’s 16th season with the team, rookie Daniel Jones will start as the Giants face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) Sunday in Week 3.
The franchise selected Jones sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Duke and the veteran says he “gets it,” in regard to why the team is making a change as it searches for a way to get a win.
So, now the question is whether Manning will stay on the Giants’ bench for the remainder of the season or if the two-time Super Bowl MVP will suit up for another team. This season, in Week 3, there are already certainly teams that could use an experienced, never-dramatic leader.
The New York Jets (0-2), the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2), the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) and the New Orleans Saints (1-1) are all dealing with quarterback shuffles after injuries (and illness) have taken out their season starters at the position. The Jets are down to QB3 after Sam Darnold was sidelined with mono and Trevor Siemian suffered an ankle injury Monday. Gardner Minshew has looked respectable for a backup, but Manning certainly has the upper hand inexperience. Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees are respectable veterans at their position, but may not see the field again soon and Manning would provide an immediate impact as an interim starter.
Carson Wentz and Cam Newton give the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers the ability to say their current QBs helped their team get to Super Bowls (albeit, SB losses). But both quarterbacks have injury histories and having Manning as a backup would give each franchise a second-string quarterback with far more accolades than the current backups on each team.
