Giants still keep rookie QB Webb under wraps

Dec 12, 2017 - 12:12 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With the 2017 season lost, the New York Giants have started to look at some of their younger talent, such as rookie running back Wayne Gallman, the team leader Sunday in carries and rushing yardage.

But one youngster whose status remains in limbo is quarterback Davis Webb, the Giants' third-round pick this year who has been patiently waiting for his role to increase to where if a game got out of hand, he might get some meaningful game snaps in relief of Eli Manning.

Surprisingly, the Giants' coaching staff hasn't changed Webb's role and it doesn't sound like they will any time soon.

"Probably no differently this particular week," said interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo when asked how the team planned to handle Webb's role this week. "I'll talk with the coaches (Tuesday)."

Spagnuolo did offer praise to the young gunslinger, calling him "one of the most hardworking young men in this building" and praising him for the work he's done with quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti.

"There are things that they're doing together throughout the course of the week," Spagnuolo said. "You're always trying to get your guys ready, but Frank has got him thinking like he could be the next quarterback in the game.

"He's prepped him and gets him out there before games and they go through an extensive, I think, 40-minute throwing progression workout. There's tapes that Davis puts together for the offense, I believe, for the quarterbacks during the week that's keeping him in the mold. So, there's a lot of that ongoing preparation as we speak."

With all that going on, why then isn't Webb further along in his development to where he could at least come in for a few late-game snaps in relief of Manning, whom by the way Spagnuolo declared will be the starting quarterback Sunday when the Giants host the Eagles?

"I'm not sure what would be gained other than if something happened to the starting quarterback he goes in," Spagnuolo said.

"There is tremendous preparation for this young man to be a quarterback in the NFL. This is what I'll talk to (offensive coordinator) Mike (Sullivan) and Frank about. Is it that much more of an advantage to have him standing on the sideline as the second than there is having him standing on the sideline as a deactivated player?"

When told that the advantage of moving Webb up the depth chart would mean more practice reps with the offense instead of the scout team, Spagnuolo quipped, "That's a pretty good example. So, there you go. A defensive coach trying to figure out how to get the second quarterback ready, but I'll talk with Mike and Frank about that."

Spagnuolo also sounded unsure about potentially having both Geno Smith and Webb active Sunday in addition to Manning.

"It's a thought. You have to think about why you would be doing that because, look, it's hard sometimes to find enough guys in the 46 for the positions to have all the backups. So, that would be a tough one."

But Spagnuolo, when asked if the team had enough information on Webb to have already formed a conclusion, said, "No, I can't say that right now. Again, you're asking questions I have not had the discussions with the offensive coaches about that. But, that's a fair question. In other words, are we not moving him up because we don't think he's ready."

With the Giants likely to have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, which would put them in a great spot to get their next franchise quarterback, Spagnuolo, who at times seemed a bit flustered by the questioning, denied that the Giants are trying to keep Webb's progress under wraps as a strategic move related to their potential draft plans.

"I don't think that's the case, but you got to give me some time to put my arms around it," he said. "I can't promise that that's going to be a public thing. I mean, we're going to function as an NFL football team. We're going to try to make sure the opponent doesn't have any extra info, so I hope you can appreciate that."

NOTES: WR Darius Powe suffered a broken ankle in his regular-season NFL debut and will undergo season-ending surgery. He has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. ... DT Khyri Thornton has been waived. Thornton had been signed by the Giants on Nov. 29 as a free agent, but was not active for them. ... TE Matt LaCosse, who initially made the 53-man roster before being waived and then signed to the Giants practice squad, was signed by the Broncos to be on their 53-man roster. ... LB Trevor Bates had his practice-squad contract terminated. ... S Landon Collins, who aggravated his ankle in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, is still "gimpy" per interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Collins has expressed a desire to play Sunday against the Eagles, but Spagnuolo said it is too soon to know for sure if the safety will be available. ... OL Justin Pugh will get a second opinion on his ailing back Wednesday according to interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Pugh has missed the last four straight games and five of his last six with his back ailment. ... DE Romeo Okwara is eligible to return to the team this coming week. Okwara, who had been on injured reserve after suffering a sprained MCL, was recently designated as one of two players the Giants can bring back from the injured reserve list.