Giants’ Daboll says sore Tommy DeVito not 100% to play Thursday

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is “not 100%” to play on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys because of a forearm injury, according to coach Brian Daboll.

Daboll is “hopeful” DeVito will be ready to make his second start since replacing Daniel Jones. DeVito was projected as a limited participant in Tuesday’s walkthrough practice as the Giants try to snap a six-game skid.

“The plan is to play,” DeVito said afterward. “Yeah, see how I’m doing (Wednesday). Hopefully I’ll wake up a little better after I’ve had some more treatment.”

DeVito will start if he is healthy enough to play. Backup Drew Lock will take some reps in practice just in case.

The Giants (2-9) are riding a short week with just four days between games. That gives DeVito, who had several big hits in Sunday’s 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, limited time to prove he can play.

“He threw the walkthrough,” Daboll said. “I wouldn’t say it’s timing or a lot of depth in it or speed in it, but he threw a walkthrough. He’ll test it here (Tuesday) in practice in another walkthrough, so I I’m hopeful, but that is not 100 percent.”

DeVito was not on the expected injury report Monday.

“Just this morning, like today, he was out there with his sleeve and I’m like, ‘Are you good?'” Daboll said. “He says, ‘Yeah, I’m going to be good. I’m going to be good. I’m a little sore’.”

But DeVito said after Tuesday’s walkthrough that he still wasn’t sure he could throw at full speed yet. His body was still feeling the effects of four sacks and nine quarterback hits Sunday.

“I think if it was a regular week, Tuesday is usually when things settle into your body. When you get hit on Sunday, Monday is usually a little sore; Tuesday is usually the worst day,” DeVito said . “So it usually helps to have an extra, whatever it is, four or five days after. But obviously this week it’s a lot different, so that’s why I’m looking forward to (Wednesday).”

DeVito was surprisingly named the Giants’ starting quarterback last Monday in place of Jones after spending the first 10 games of the season as the third-stringer. He went 21-of-31 for 189 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against the Bucs.

But the second-year undrafted free agent took some big hits in the contest. He left the game on the final drive before returning one play later. DeVito then got another big hit before time expired.

“He just got a little confused. I think he had the wind knocked out of him out there,” Daboll said. “He took a few shots. So hopefully he’s okay.”

The Giants clearly have questions now if that is the case. Dabøll gives the starting quarterback all the first-team snaps for practice in a normal week.

Lock took some first-team snaps Tuesday. It was different from a usual week.

“More than zero reps,” Lock said half-jokingly.

The Giants need to cover all their bases just in case.

“I’m going to give Drew a few snaps here and see,” Daboll said. “We’re moving forward and we’ve got a lot of time on task with the walkthroughs, the stuff we’ve put in. We just had one earlier (Tuesday), so I’ll give Drew a few of those.

“But if Tommy is good, then Tommy will be the guy.”

Meanwhile, as the Giants prepare to face the Cowboys, they will be without outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a toe injury he suffered Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Ojulari had six sacks despite just five starts this season as he prepares to become a free agent. His roster spot was taken by former Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich, who was claimed off waivers Wednesday.