LAS VEGAS — Tommy DeVito didn’t want to go there quite yet.
But it’s possible the Giants are his team to quarterback the rest of the season if the right knee injury starter Daniel Jones suffered in Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Raiders turns out to be what many in the organization fear it is, which is season-ending.
When Jones went down on a non-contact situation on the final play of the first quarter, Giants coaches told DeVito to go take a couple practice snaps on the sideline in case he had to enter the game.
“You good?’’ DeVito asked Jones between the first and second quarters.
“I’m good,’’ Jones told DeVito.
But Jones lasted only one more play, with his right knee collapsing on a drop-back on the first play of the second quarter.
“It sucks,’’ DeVito said of Jones’ injury after he completed 15 of 20 passes for 175 yards with his first NFL TD pass and two INTs. “[Jones] is in my prayers and the whole team’s prayers for him to be back.’’
If Jones isn’t back, though, the team is most likely to turn to the 25-year-old undrafted rookie from Jersey by way of Don Bosco Prep, Syracuse and Illinois.
A week ago, in the loss to the Jets, DeVito came off the bench to finish the game after No. 2 quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a rib injury and Giants head coach Brian Daboll let him throw only seven passes (he completed two for minus-1 yard) on a rainy, miserable day at MetLife Stadium.
“Completely different scenario,’’ DeVito said. “Last week … offensively, the mindset was different. This week we were down early, so we had to try to get back.’’
DeVito, who entered the game with the Giants trailing 7-0, threw his first INT trying to force a long pass toward the end zone to rookie receiver Jalin Hyatt with two defensive backs in the area.
Amik Robertson picked the pass off and that led to a Las Vegas TD and a 21-0 lead.
Later in the first half, a DeVito pass was a little behind receiver Darius Slayton, who failed to corral it and the ball deflected into the arms of Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs.
That turnover led to a Raiders field goal a 24-0 halftime lead.
“I made some mistakes that I look forward to cleaning up,’’ DeVito said. “I had two turnovers that led to points and that doesn’t help our defense. Every time I step on the field, I want to prove that I belong on that field.’’
DeVito’s teammates gave him solid reviews.
“He did great,’’ Giants running back Saquon Barkley said. “He’s a natural-born leader. He’s a true competitor. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.’’
Left tackle Andrew Thomas said he thought DeVito “did a great job for us,’’ adding, “[The coaches] gave him more opportunities today to throw the ball down the field. It wasn’t the best situation to come into because we were down, but I think he did a great job handling it and making some plays for us.”
DeVito, who last week against the Jets scored a rushing TD in his first NFL game action, on Sunday threw his first career TD — a 9-yard pass to receiver Wan’Dale Robinson 49 seconds into the fourth quarter to cut the Vegas lead to 27-6. DeVito made a nice improvisation play on the TD, rolling and throwing it to Robinson in the back of the end zone.
“We were down, so it wasn’t a reason to celebrate, but that drive and the drive before, you really saw us move the ball and the offense started to click at that point, but unfortunately, we clicked too late,” DeVito said.
“He did some good things — he stood in there, competed well. We’ll keep working with him,’’ Daboll said.
“He’s getting more comfortable out there and doing some good things,’’ Justin Pugh, who played left guard Sunday, said.
“Everybody has to change, starting with me,’’ DeVito said. “We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and try to give more.’’
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