QB Drew Lock ready ‘if the opportunity comes again’

ARLINGTON, Texas – Drew Lock experienced a strange confluence of emotions on Thanksgiving.

The six-year NFL quarterback started his first game of the season in place of an injured Tommy DeVito. The competitor in Lock was unhappy the result of his milestone appearance was a 27-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in AT&T Stadium. But the part of Lock that is an athlete and football player? He relished the opportunity to play.

“You’re upset when you lose, but nothing but fun,” Lock said. “You love football. You love being able to come out here and play on Thanksgiving. You want to win. Upset we didn’t. There were a couple of things we could have done better. But the last 24 hours, I won’t forget it. Awesome opportunity to come out here and play. I wish we could have got it done. But I was very excited to be told I was playing and come out here to try to get a win.”

Lock’s performance was as diverse as his feelings.

He completed 65.6% of his passes for 178 yards but did not throw for a touchdown and his only interception was returned for a touchdown. Lock led the Giants with 57 rushing yards, 25 more than rookie running back Tyrone Tracy. The QB scored one of the Giants’ touchdowns on an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter and set up Tracy’s touchdown with a 28-yard scramble that was originally ruled a score. That was overturned on replay and Tracy scored on the next snap. Lock also lost a fumble on the first series of the third quarter.

“I thought Drew did some good stuff, but two big turnovers,” coach Brian Daboll said. “One on a screen we had a big opportunity to get a big play on, and then coming out in the second half, up in the pocket and getting the ball knocked out. You can’t have those turnovers.”

It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for both Lock and DeVito. The drama began on Nov. 18 when the Giants returned from their bye week and Daboll announced that DeVito, who had been the No. 3 quarterback all season, had leapfrogged Lock and replaced Daniel Jones as the starter. DeVito played the entire game last Sunday vs. Tampa Bay but came away with a sore throwing forearm. That sharply limited his participation in walk-throughs as the Giants prepared for a short-week road game.

On Wednesday, DeVito stayed behind to undergo further examination while the Giants flew to Texas. He eventually joined the team but was inactive as the third quarterback in the game.

“If it was a Sunday, I think I would have been…