It looks like New York Giants fans will be seeing backup quarterback Tommy DeVito on the sidelines again this season.
Official 53-man roster cuts won’t be announced until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, but a rule revision vetoed by the NFL Players Association on Monday may have clinched DeVito a spot.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the players association declined to approve a tweak to the emergency third quarterback rule which would allow teams to call up a practice squad quarterback an unlimited amount of times during the season.
Therefore, the rule reverts to its 2023 version which requires the emergency quarterback to be on the 53-man roster.
With starting quarterback Daniel Jones returning from an ACL injury and backup Drew Lock not practicing since injuring his hip in a preseason game on Aug. 8, DeVito should find himself on the 53-man roster come Tuesday afternoon.
DeVito entered the Big Apple’s spotlight in the latter stages of the 2023-24 season after injuries claimed Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor.
The 26-year-old New Jersey native, dubbed “Tommy Cutlets” by fans, won three consecutive games as a rookie starter last season – the first in franchise history since Phil Simms won four consecutive as a rookie in 1979.
However, if DeVito takes the field during the regular season this year, then something will have gone terribly wrong for New York yet again.
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New York Giants 2024 Roster Cut Tracker
NFL
Cardinals trade edge-rusher to Chiefs
With some extra depth at linebacker, the Cardinals are moving on from a former third-round pick. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals have traded linebacker Cameron Thomas to the Chiefs for a seventh-round selection. While the Cardinals have tried to get creative with their usage of Thomas, he seemed destined to be buried on the edge-rusher depth chart in 2024. Zaven Collins and Dennis Gardeck are still expected to lead the positional grouping, and the team is also still rostering former sixth-round pick Victor Dimukeje, who outsnapped Thomas in 2023.
While fellow edge-rusher BJ Ojulari will miss the entire 2024 campaign, Thomas was still facing an uphill battle toward playing time. The team added rookie Xavier Thomas in the fifth round and is still hanging on to former bottom-of-the-depth chart options like Jesse Luketa and Tyreke Smith. More moves are surely coming at outside linebacker, but Monday’s trade should provide some temporary relief in Arizona’s position room.
The Chiefs will be taking a chance on a player whose San Diego State performance made him a third-round pick in 2022. After finishing with three sacks as a rookie, the Cardinals were clearly counting on more from Thomas in 2023, with the OLB starting three of his 15 appearances. However, Thomas was shutout in the sacks category, and he finished with only 22 tackles while getting into about one third of his team’s defensive snaps. The Chiefs will return a similar edge grouping in 2024 with George Karlaftis, Mike Danna and 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah leading the way. Charles Omenihu and BJ Thompson are currently on PUP and NFI, respectively, so there could be a chance for Thomas to soak up some snaps in the interim.
How CeeDee Lamb’s deal affects 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
MLB
Yankees add potential postseason secret weapon
How a team handles the little things makes a big difference in the postseason. Just look at what happened in the recent Little League World Series finale: Taiwan misplayed a bunt and handed the championship to Florida. It’s unlikely the New York Yankees are looking to a bunch of 12-year-olds for inspiration. However, the Bombers do seem to be diving into the details ahead of the postseason by snapping up outfielder Duke Ellis. Designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners last week, Ellis is known for one attribute: speed.
And that speed could make this under-the-radar move a key component in the Yankees’ push for a 28th championship. The Yankees are Ellis’ fourth team this season. After joining the Chicago White Sox for a cup of coffee in early June, he spent time in the minor leagues with the New York Mets and the Mariners. Ellis, 26, isn’t much of a threat at the plate. He went 0-for-4 in his MLB stint and has slashed just .238/.325/.339 in his minor league career. But his elite wheels have kept him employed.
Although he went hitless with the White Sox, he stole four bases in four tries. In 273 minor league games, he’s nabbed 134 bags in 152 attempts. And he was thrown out just twice in three seasons of NCAA baseball. Clearly, the Yankees signed Ellis to use as a difference maker as they attempt to win their division and then march through the playoffs. As a potent pinch runner, he gives Bombers manager Aaron Boone the option to turn late-inning walks and singles into doubles and triples. And Ellis would make an incredibly scary ghost runner in extra-inning affairs. Ellis joining the Yankees isn’t a big story right now. But there’s a world in which he delivers some key moments in the playoffs.
Bengals third-round pick named preseason’s ‘highest-graded offensive rookie’
NFL
49ers may have found the perfect RB2 behind Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey is one of the most explosive running backs in the league, arguably the premier player at the position, and in a lot of ways the engine that powers the San Francisco 49ers offense.
McCaffrey is vitally important to the 49ers’ success, and last season rushed for a career-high 1,459 yards with 14 touchdowns. He has been equally dangerous in the passing game where he accounted for 564 yards and seven more scores. However, given the nature of the running back position and the physical toll that is exacted by a season with upward of 339 touches, the 49ers may need to lighten McCaffrey’s load in 2024. Fortunately for head coach Kyle Shanahan, McCaffrey and the 49ers, San Francisco boasts plenty of capable backups behind the two-time first-team All-Pro and reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
San Francisco 49ers RB Jordan Mason a diamond in the rough CBS Sports NFL analyst Chris Trapasso put together a list of running backs across the NFL who could thrive in feature roles if given the chance or called upon to, including Jordan Mason. “[Kyle] Shanahan has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s finest offensive minds,” Trapasso points out for CBS. “And like what was absolutely true with his dad, Mike Shanahan — the Shanahan running scheme, even as it has evolved, is luxurious for running backs of any kind, picked in any round in the draft, or ball carriers not drafted at all.”
“Mason, at a sturdy 5-foot-11 and 220-plus pounds with uncharacteristically nimble footwork relative to his size and effortless power, can absolutely stand in as a valuable RB2 or, yes, San Francisco’s RB1 if the situation ever called for it. And maybe it’s time to give this underutilized stud more than 40ish carries in a season. ” Last season, Mason rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns. But, given the nagging injuries McCaffrey played through down the stretch in 2023 and the lofty expectations San Francisco has for 2024, Mason could see a more significant role in the offense this season.
Packers QB Jordan Love makes massive jump in tier rankings
NHL
Auston Matthews Hits a Homer as the Maple Leafs’ New Captain
John Tavares was a solid captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs—taking care of younger players, inviting them into his home, and fostering a sense of family within the team. However, Auston Matthews is stepping into the role with a different energy. Matthews brings a natural, affable leadership style that makes him more approachable. That’s partly attributed to his laid-back demeanor and the fact that he doesn’t have the responsibilities of a family yet. His leadership feels effortless.
He has a blend of intense drive and easygoing charm that resonates well with teammates and those around him. Matthews Shows Well in Muskoka Recently, Matthews significantly impacted the Muskoka camp, where the team has been preparing for the upcoming season. His interactions with the camp leaders and fellow players have been impressive. One camp leader, who regularly works with top-tier athletes, praised Matthews for his “ridiculous” hockey skills. However, more remarkable was Matthews’ genuine kindness and humility.
Matthews took the time to engage with people, sign memorabilia, and display the kind of first-class conduct that leaves a lasting impression. This early praise suggests that Matthews is hitting a home run in his first opportunities as captain. He’s showing that leadership goes beyond on-ice performance—it’s also about how you carry yourself off the ice. Matthews is setting a solid example for the team, proving that he’s capable of leading the Maple Leafs to success and embodying the qualities that make a great captain.
Matthews Is One of the Best Players of His Generation As one of the most phenomenal players of his generation, Matthews’ skill is unquestionable. With awards like the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and a 69-goal season, he can also lead by example. He inspires his teammates. In this, he might help to drive the Maple Leafs to new heights. With his remarkable track record and continuous growth, Matthews is poised to leave an unforgettable mark on the franchise, potentially leading it to the championships fans have long hoped for. And for this Maple Leafs team, that’s the bottom line—making an extended playoff run.
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