Perhaps never before in NFL history have backup quarterbacks been more important than they will be in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should a starting quarterback test positive, they will likely miss at least two games, meaning their back-up and possibly even a third-stringer will be forced into action.
So, where does that leave the New York Giants in the event Daniel Jones is forced to sit out for a few weeks?
Pro Football Focus recently pondered that exact question for all 32 NFL teams and, interestingly enough, the Giants fared far better than you might expect.
18. NEW YORK GIANTS
Backup QBs: Colt McCoy, Cooper Rush, Alex Tanney, Case Cookus
McCoy seems destined to stick around the NFL until he’s good and ready to retire. The 10-year veteran hasn’t won a start since 2014, although he’s the type of solid-enough QB with an A+ name to continue to rack up checks deep into his 30s. Neither Rush nor Tanney has a career start to his name, while the former Northern Arizona QB Cookus is unlikely to make the final roster. I wouldn’t count on new-OC Jason Garrett enabling either McCoy or his youngsters to much of a ceiling (or floor) if Daniel Jones is forced to miss much time.
Considering how badly the Giants were criticized for hanging onto Alex Tanney and then adding both Colt McCoy and Cooper Rush, it’s interesting to see an analytics giant like PFF ranking them mid-pack in the NFL.
However, let’s remain hopeful that the Giants don’t have to see anyone other than Jones under center in 2020.
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