Drew Lock marveled at the number that defined Giants great Eli Manning’s durability the same way Manning’s teammates once did.
Lock will make his fourth start of the season at quarterback Sunday against the Colts.
Since benching and releasing Daniel Jones, the Giants have started (in order) Tommy DeVito, Lock twice, DeVito and now Lock for a second straight game.
During that time, DeVito dealt with a forearm injury and a concussion, while Lock dealt with injuries to an elbow, heel and shoulder after a hip pointer earlier in the season.
So, yes, it is pretty remarkable Manning once started 210 straight regular-season games for the Giants (before a one-game benching in 2017) and never missed a game due to injury in his 16-year NFL career.
“That’s tough to do on any team, any position, especially the quarterback spot,” Lock said. “He was playing a couple extra [playoff] games at the end of the year too, so add those into there, that’s impressive.”
Lock said Monday’s MRI on his throwing shoulder was done as a precaution.
“Right hand, right shoulder, if it feels just anything, ‘Hey, let’s go get this looked at just to make sure everything’s all right,’ ” Lock said. “It came back good, so rocking and rolling.”
Head coach Brian Daboll is sticking with Lock after he threw two pick-sixes against the Falcons rather than turning to the less-experienced DeVito as a developmental situation.
“Try to get two weeks of the same cadence, same play caller in the huddle,” Daboll said.
C John Michael Schmitz was in a walking boot, which means another offensive line reshuffle could be in store.
If Schmitz can’t play, the Giants could slide over RG Greg Van Roten to snap and insert OG Aaron Stinnie, though Stinnie missed last week’s game and has yet to clear the concussion protocol.
Another option is to activate C Austin Schlottmann from injured reserve.
Schlottman suffered a broken leg in the first practice after surviving cut day and spent six weeks getting around the facility on a scooter. He has been back at practice since Dec. 11.
“It’s been a long year,” Schlotttman said, “so it would mean something to get back in a game or two and finish it out that way.”
Schlottman snapped to Lock during the quarterback’s NFL debut in 2019.
The Giants are staring at the possibility of becoming the NFL’s first team to go 0-9 at home.
It only became possible in the 17-game schedule era (since 2021).
“You definitely don’t want to have lowlights,” OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux said. “This year hasn’t gone as planned, but continuing to give it our best and making sure we go out and try to get a win.”
Sunday’s game is the Giants’ last one at MetLife Stadium before before finishing the season at Philadelphia.
In addition to Schmitz, RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., WR Malik Nabers, CB Dru Phillips, LB Micah McFadden, CB Greg Stroman Jr., S Raheem Layne and DT Corey Durden did not practice.
Layne suffered a season-ending torn meniscus in his knee during his season debut, per The Athletic. It was his first game after suffering a torn ACL last season.
