Giants’ Thanksgiving Day hopes crumble vs Cowboys with latest injury update

The New York Giants’ nightmare season has taken yet another turn, potentially for the worse, and this time, it could impact their already grim Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

Head coach Brian Daboll revealed that starting quarterback Tommy DeVito is nursing a forearm injury and is “not 100 percent” to play in Thursday’s divisional clash at AT&T Stadium.

For a team already in freefall at 2-9, this latest setback feels like pouring salt into an open wound. If DeVito can’t go, the Giants would likely turn to backup Drew Lock, a quarterback whose benching earlier this season added another chapter to the team’s ongoing drama.

Tommy DeVito banged up heading into Thanksgiving clash vs. Dallas Cowboys

DeVito’s forearm injury is just the latest in a string of misfortunes for a Giants team that has failed to find its footing in 2024. The undrafted sophomore quarterback struggled mightily leading the offense in his opener, but Daboll’s decision to ride with DeVito over more experienced options, including Lock, has drawn criticism. Now, with DeVito’s status in question, the team may be forced to pivot.

In his press conference on Monday, Daboll attempted to downplay the injury while acknowledging the obvious challenges of a short week. Adam Schefter’s tweet encapsulated the uncertainty:

If DeVito can’t suit up, Drew Lock becomes the next man up, but his potential return to the starting lineup raises more questions than answers. The Giants have been criticized for their handling of Lock, who was passed over for DeVito despite his superior NFL experience.

Lock’s frustration has been well-documented, and the lack of clarity surrounding his role hasn’t helped matters in a fractured locker room.

Lock’s ability to stretch the field could provide a slight spark for an offense averaging a league-worst 14.8 points per game. However, his inconsistent play and the team’s overall dysfunction make it hard to believe he could reverse their fortunes against a Cowboys squad riding high after snapping a five-game losing streak with a win over Washington.

Dallas will undoubtedly be eager to feast on a Giants' defense that is lacking any sliver of effort. Meanwhile, Lock, or a banged-up DeVito, will face relentless pressure from a Cowboys pass rush anchored by Micah Parsons. The Giants’ offensive line, which allowed four sacks in last week’s 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers, remains a glaring weakness.

Even before DeVito’s injury, the Giants were heading into Thanksgiving as heavy underdogs. With their season all but lost, Daboll has continued to insist he believes in his processes and players. Yet the locker room tells a different story. Public comments from players like rookie WR Malik Nabers and defensive leader Dexter Lawrence suggest a team frustrated with both their leadership and their performance.

The Cowboys, sitting at 4-7 and fighting to stay in the playoff hunt, will smell blood in the water. Led by backup QB Cooper Rush, they'll look to take care of a deflated Giants team.

As DeVito’s status remains up in the air, one thing is certain: a prime-time embarrassment on Thanksgiving could be the final nail in the coffin for a Giants season that’s already beyond salvageable. Whether it’s DeVito or Lock under center, this matchup against Dallas has all the makings of another tough watch for New York and national television viewers.

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