With the starters on both teams getting a chance to rest in the preseason opener, second-year players Tommy DeVito and Eric Gray took the opportunity to prove themselves to coach Brian Daboll as the New York Giants won 14-3 against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night.
DeVito came in for an injured Drew Lock late in the first quarter and guided New York on two first-half scoring drives, which Gray finished with runs of 48 and 1 yard, helping to boost their chances of moving up on the depth chart.
“Every day is a step in the right direction,” said DeVito, who ended with 8 completions out of 15 attempts for 92 yards. “Try to build off it every single time I go out on the field and have the opportunity to be on the field.”
DeVito, who became popular last year after making the roster as an undrafted free agent and starting six games due to injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, said he feels more confident in his second season with less anxiety.
The New Jersey native started camp as the No. 3 quarterback behind Jones and Lock but continues to perform well when given the chance.
Gray, who ran for 52 yards on four carries and caught four passes for 46 yards, had a tough rookie season and didn’t see much action with Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida taking most of the carries. He was also behind new addition Devin Singletary and draft pick Tyrone Tracy in the early weeks of camp.
Now, he has a chance to play more. “I was just being me,” Gray said. “Last year, I feel like I was making the game too much. Too much when it was just football at the end of the day. So today I was just showing it that way.”
The game was played in light rain, and neither Dan Campbell of the NFC North champion Lions nor Daboll wanted to risk any starters in the game at MetLife Stadium, which is near where the teams had two fight-filled joint practices earlier in the week.
The NFL was so displeased with the fights that both teams were fined $200,000 each.
There was hardly any action in the game, and not much scoring either. Lions coach Dan Campbell said he learned a lot about some players and sees a lot of potential for improvement.
“Certainly wasn’t our best performance, but man there was some guys that showed up and it’s going to be great tape for us to evaluate,” he said.
Brandon Joseph intercepted a pass from Lock and returned it 20 yards, setting up a 53-yard field goal by former United Football League kicker Jake Bates with 3:21 left in the quarter.
Lock, who ended up with 4 completions out of 10 attempts for 17 yards, injured his hip on the next series and did not return, although he mentioned after the game that he could have played if needed.
Gray, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023, caught a 24-yard swing pass on third down to start a six-play, 91-yard touchdown drive. He finished the drive with a long run and a great move to get free.
DeVito completed passes of 13 yards to Gray and 18 yards to tight end Tyree Jackson, setting up Gray’s 1-yard run. The drive began at the Lions’ 37-yard line after rookie Dru Phillips stopped Lions starter Nate Sudfeld on a 4th-and-1.
Sudfeld played the first half, and former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker played the second half as he competes to back up Jared Goff, who led the Lions to the NFC title game last season.
Both Sudfeld and Hooker are recovering from ACL injuries. Sudfeld finished 13 of 24 for 96 yards and an interception. Hooker, who left after the third quarter with a concussion, was 5 of 9 for 36 yards and had four runs for 34 yards.
Both quarterbacks led the Lions inside the Giants’ 10-yard line in the second half but were stopped on downs.
Free agent Dante Miller led the Giants with 12 carries for 63 yards. Second-year linebacker Derrian Beavers led New York with five tackles, including two consecutive tackles late in the drive led by Hooker.
Detroit was 5 of 17 on third down, 0 for 4 on fourth down, and 0 for 3 in the red zone.
