Here’s why Giants made Daniel Jones third-string QB, not backup

The Giants benched quarterback Daniel Jones on Monday.
Tommy DeVito is the starting quarterback again, while Drew Lock will stay in the backup spot, according to coach Brian Daboll.
That leaves Jones, who has a $23 million injury guarantee — which almost certainly factored into the decision, despite what Daboll says — as the third-string quarterback.
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Making Jones the third QB is crucial for the Giants, who are 2-8 and desperately searching for their answer at the QB position, as it basically eliminates the possibility of him getting injured in a game and activating the guarantee.
Remember: If Jones suffered a serious injury that prevented him from passing a physical on March 12, he would have received $12 million guaranteed. And if he couldn’t pass a physical by Week 1 next season, he would have received another $11 million.
The decision to bench Jones doesn’t totally remove the possibility of the injury guarantee kicking in, though.
Unlike Derek Carr in 2022, Jones has not been sent home as a protective measure and will remain with the team to wrap up the season.
The injury guarantee can still kick in if Jones gets hurt during an organized team activity on the Giants’ premises (at practice, in the weight room, among other things), so there is still a chance — albeit, a slim one — that the Giants are on the hook for the guarantee money after the season.
Let’s see how it all plays out.
DeVito will make his 2024 debut at MetLife Stadium this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6). The Giants have seven games left on their schedule.
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Ryan Novozinsky may be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on X @ryannovo62.