New York City – The time has come for the New York Giants to move on from quarterback Daniel Jones after a rocky start to the season. This week, the Giants benched Jones, a decision that was expected but still hard for his teammates, especially for defensive line standout Dexter Lawrence. Speaking at a charity event on Tuesday, Lawrence expressed his strong feelings about the situation, stating, “That’s my best friend. It’s tough for that to happen.”
Lawrence, who was also drafted in 2019 alongside Jones, has been a supportive teammate and friend throughout their careers. The two have shared ups and downs, but Lawrence made it clear that changes happen in football based on evaluations made by the coaching staff. He acknowledged, “I can’t control it. They made the decision based off their evaluations and their thoughts and feelings.”
This season, the Giants have struggled, and Jones has faced quite a bit of criticism. Over 10 games, he has thrown just eight touchdowns against seven interceptions, along with an average of 207 yards per game. In contrast, Lawrence has performed admirably, leading the Giants’ defense with nine sacks and 38 tackles. Despite the setbacks, Lawrence pointed out that losing is a team effort, stating, “Teams lose games, not just one player, and I think that should be understood.”
With the Giants sitting at a disappointing 2-8 record, head coach Brian Daboll made the tough call to bench Jones and elevate rookie Tommy DeVito to starting quarterback, while veteran Drew Lock takes the backup spot. Lawrence admitted he was confused by the decision but emphasized trust in the coaching staff, saying, “You got to be naïve and trust the process.”
Moving forward, Jones could be nearing the end of his time with the Giants, as he has no guaranteed money left on his contract after this season. As the team prepares to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, Lawrence remains hopeful for DeVito, stating, “He has probably the most charisma and confidence I’ve ever seen in a third-string quarterback.”
As the Giants navigate this transition, the team is looking for solutions to turn their season around, with players like Lawrence continuing to support each other through the ups and downs on and off the field.
