EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Tommy DeVito has injected some New Jersey self-confidence into the Giants’ offensive huddle, and his teammates love it.
DeVito, the team’s rookie quarterback, will be the team’s starter when the Giants face the Dallas Cowboys Sunday in AT&T Stadium. He will be the first undrafted rookie in franchise history to start at the game’s most important position in a non-strike game, and the 10th rookie quarterback to start this season, the highest total since at least 1950 (excluding the 1987 season, which included numerous rookie strike-replacement quarterbacks).
Asked how DeVito made that unlikely leap from the practice squad to the starting lineup, coach Brian Daboll said, “Well, injuries. Start with that. The two guys that were ahead of him got injured and he was the third guy.”
Yes, DeVito’s promotion resulted from injuries that sidelined Daniel Jones (torn ACL) and Tyrod Taylor (rib cage). The circumstances of DeVito’s ascension to the first team were unexpected, but that doesn’t mean he must be quiet and deferential. The 25-year-old from nearby Cedar Grove and Don Bosco High School strongly believes he can do the job and that buoyancy has lifted his teammates.
“He’s got that Jersey mentality to him,” running back Saquon Barkley said. “He’s got an edge to him. He plays with confidence. You could see that in his play, you could feel that in the huddle, and I’m excited for him.
“It’s great. Having that confidence and swagger when you’re a rookie definitely helps you playing. Playing at this level, the game is moving a little faster. It’s going to slow down every single time he gets more reps, but he has that confidence, and you know the people around you have that confidence in you, too.”
“He’s got that – I don’t know if it’s happy-go-lucky, but he’s got charisma and it shows in the huddle,” offensive lineman Justin Pugh said. “It’s in the way he plays, his dancing. He’s having a good time. I’m excited for him.
“I’ve heard him say a few times, ‘You know where I’m from.’ He internalizes that. It’s a good thing. This area has a lot to offer and he’s representing it.”
Rookie free agent quarterbacks usually receive relatively few opportunities to show what they can do in offseason workouts and training camp. Most are waived and are either signed to a practice squad or begin an itinerant journey from roster to roster.
But the Jersey native was comfortable quarterbacking his…
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