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Giants insert rookie at quarterback in place of Manning

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eli Manning’s long and distinguished reign as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback is seemingly over. Let the Daniel Jones era begin.

Coach Pat Shurmur announced Tuesday that the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL draft is replacing the two-time Super Bowl MVP as the Giants’ quarterback, beginning Sunday at Tampa Bay.

The move comes less than 24 hours after Shurmur refused to say Manning would remain the starter following two straight losses, the sixth time in seven years New York has gotten off to a 0-2 start.

The 38-year-old Manning has been the Giants’ starter since replacing Kurt Warner after nine games in the 2004 season, the year Manning was traded to New York by San Diego after it took him with the No. 1 overall pick.

Manning led the Giants to Super Bowl titles following the 2007 and ’11 seasons, beating Tom Brady and the Patriots both times.

“Eli and I spoke this morning,” Shurmur said. “I told him that we are making a change and going with Daniel as the starter. I also talked to Daniel. Eli was obviously disappointed, as you would expect, but he said he would be what he has always been, a good teammate, and continue to prepare to help this team win games. Daniel understands the challenge at hand, and he will be ready to play on Sunday.”

The Giants players had Tuesday off and Manning was not available for comment.

Manning is in the final year of a four-year, $84 million contract that includes a no-trade clause. His salary cap hit this season is $23.2 million.

In two games, Manning completed 56 of 89 passes for 556 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 78.7. But the Giants have scored only four touchdowns, despite averaging 420 yards.

Veteran receiver Golden Tate missed the first two games serving a four-game suspension for using performance enhancers and go-to guy Sterling Shepard was out this past weekend with a concussion.

“Ultimately, this is a move that I felt was best for this team at this time,” said Shurmur, who is in his second season with the Giants. “I have said it since I got here, I am very fond of Eli. His work ethic, his preparation, his football intelligence. All those attributes are as good as I have ever seen in a player. And Eli worked as hard as you could ask of anybody to get ready for this season. This move is more about Daniel moving forward than about Eli.”

The question of when Jones would take over has been a constant topic since the Giants drafted him. It gained momentum when the 22-year-old Duke product completed 29 of 34 passes for 416 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions in the preseason. His 137.2 quarterback rating was the best in the league.

Jones is much more mobile than Manning and will be able to extend plays with his legs. Manning has been a sitting target for opponents once they get past the O-line. Jones also has shown a good touch with his deep throws.

The hint of an impending change surfaced Monday and a day later, Shurmur benched the man who has been the face of the organization for the past 15-plus years.

Manning, who is playing in a team-record 16th season with the Giants, knew the change was a possibility.

“We’re 0-2 and you are looking for answers,” he said Monday. “I get it, we drafted a guy early and you are not winning games, these things are going to come up. I just have to keep working and do whatever my job is.”

On Sunday, his job will be as Jones’ backup.

Darnold hopes to return in Week 5 vs. Eagles

NEW YORK — Sam Darnold hopes to be back on the field sooner than many expected.

The New York Jets quarterback said Tuesday during his weekly spot on “The Michael Kay Show” on 98.7 ESPN New York that he’s feeling much better while recovering from mononucleosis and is aiming to return in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. That would mean he would miss only two games.

“There was a really bad four-day stretch there where I also had strep throat during the mono, so it was a bad few days,” Darnold said in his first public comments since becoming ill. “The worst thing about this sickness is that now that I’m feeling better, I still can’t do anything. There’s nothing I can do about it. So, that’s the worst part about this.

“And the timing couldn’t be worse, either. You know, right at the beginning of the season.”

Darnold watched New York’s 23-3 loss to Cleveland on Monday night at his home with his parents “like a normal fan” and couldn’t believe when backup Trevor Siemian went down with what ended up being a season-ending ankle injury.

“When it initially happened, I actually had a little episode,” Darnold said. “I went in the room and started screaming into a pillow and was just punching my pillow as hard as I could. It was tough, man. You never want to see that for a teammate.”

Third-stringer Luke Falk will start against New England on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Darnold said he’s unsure how he contracted the illness, but added that he began feeling some effects from it a few nights before the Jets’ season-opening loss to Buffalo. He was 28 of 41 for 175 yards and a TD in that game.

“I definitely wasn’t feeling 100%, to be honest with you,” Darnold said. “The night before, I got really bad night’s sleep. Really a couple of nights before the game, I got really bad nights’ sleep, waking up three or four times during the night with cold sweats, so I wasn’t feel myself. During the game, with adrenalin and all that, you can sort of mask it. But I was probably around 80, 85% at that point. Obviously, I could’ve played better.”

Last Wednesday, Darnold showed up at the team’s facility feeling sick, and was sent home before practice.

He had tests run, and antibiotics weren’t working completely. That’s when doctors diagnosed him with mono, and coach Adam Gase went to Darnold’s home to deliver the news with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and trainer Dave Zuffelato.

“At first, I thought they were joking,” Darnold said. “I thought it was a sick joke and they didn’t smile, didn’t crack a smile, didn’t laugh or anything, so I knew it was serious right away.”

Darnold said he has lost only about 2 pounds while recuperating, focusing on making sure he didn’t miss any meals and snacking when he could. Mononucleosis typically saps people’s strength and appetites, causing weight loss.

He was able to return to the facility Tuesday for the first time since he was deemed no longer contagious.

“It’s a bummer,” Darnold said. “It’s not something you ever want to go through as an athlete. I’m not complaining, though. I’m just going through it and doing what I need to do to get better.”

Darnold said he hasn’t picked up a football since he’s been sick, as doctors’ orders are for him to not do anything, so he can’t work out or do anything to raise his blood pressure. The key is making sure his enlarged spleen — one of the symptoms of mononucleosis — goes to normal size before he can play again.

“I feel amazing,” he said. “I mean, my energy is back up and I’m not stuffed up anymore. I feel fine. It’s just that I’ve got to wait this thing out.”

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP–NFL

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press.

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