Tim Boyle’s first touchdown pass of the season elevated him into the lead on the Giants’ roster.
Ridiculous, but true.
The nightmarish carousel that has been the quarterback position ever since Daniel Jones was benched and cut took another dark turn Sunday when Tommy DeVito — who was starting in place of an injured Drew Lock — was concussed, and Boyle had to play the entire second half of a 35-14 loss to the Ravens.
Boyle acquitted himself better than expected — especially considering that he signed to the practice squad Nov. 19 and had not taken a single first-team practice rep — as he made quick decisions and threw the Giants’ first touchdown pass since Jones’ last five games ago.
“It looked like he knew the offense just as a first-string quarterback,” receiver Malik Nabers said after catching that touchdown. “For him to toss the ball around, give us chances on footballs, try to do the best of his ability to get another win, I think he played a great game.”
Boyle had not taken a single first-team rep in practice before he was called upon.
He was cut and re-signed last week.
“What you saw today was my first time playing with those guys,” said Boyle, who appeared in two games for the Dolphins earlier this season and made two starts for the Jets last season. “So, definitely a cool learning experience.”
The journeyman Boyle completed 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards with the touchdown and an interception.
“We have a couple code words here and there that I’m still working through, but I’d say 99 percent of the offense is pretty much down for me,” Boyle said. “I want to learn everything as fast as possible. It’s not really one of those things I want to baby myself through.”
Since Nov. 18, the Giants have benched Jones, cut Jones, curiously started the third-stringer DeVito over the second-stringer Lock, started Lock over an injured DeVito, started Lock over a healthy DeVito, started DeVito over an injured Lock, now turned to Boyle.
“Part of the job is coming in and knowing what to do,” Boyle said. “It’s been all hands on deck just from understanding the personnel and guys, and trying to earn their respect, so I could step into a position like this and try to command the group.”
Boyle’s default mindset seemed to be throwing to Nabers, who finished with 10 catches for 82 yards.
Not a bad idea.
“When everything’s equal, No. 1 is pretty special,” Boyle said. “So, always in the back of your mind as a quarterback at the Giants, you kind of always know where No. 1 is if things go haywire. It’s one of those (where you) feel pretty good about your matchup on a 50/50.”
Head coach Brian Daboll said it is “too early” to know who will be the quarterback next Sunday against the Falcons.
