Without question to some, this will seem like major news. To those that feel Eli Manning has been a great player since his rookie year in 2004, it’s a chance to see him play one last time. Indeed, the word on the street is Manning will get the start on Monday Night Football in Philadelphia.
The 2-10 Giants will take on the 5-7 Eagles with a chance to hurt Philadelphia’s playoff chances. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said that Manning is ‘likely’ to start with rookie Daniel Jones sidelined with a high-ankle sprain.
Daniel Jones is "very likely" to miss MNF vs. the Eagles.
🗣 E L I pic.twitter.com/ijmqoBQTZs
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 4, 2019
Manning told Jordan Raanan of ESPN that it’s a wait and see, but he’s preparing.
“Obviously we’ll see what happens Monday,” Manning said after taking the first-team snaps at practice. “But business as usual in a sense get the game plan, start prepping for Philly. Going against a good defense, but also a defense we faced a number of years. Know ’em well. Just get back into the mix with the offensive line and receivers. Make sure the timing is where it needs to be.”
Remember, Jones took over for Manning after just two games when the 2019 began. Since then, Jones has shown himself to be the future of the franchise. However, with Manning in the final year of his contract; this is a chance for the New York fans who love him to say goodbye. By comparison, Derek Jeter got his own farewell tour in the Bronx. Now Manning will get his.
It sounds like Manning is not thinking about next year, just today.
“Just take it one week at a time. You never want to make decisions about the future while you’re living in the present and don’t know the circumstance of what can happen,” Manning said. “Just have to go out there and try to get a win for the Giants if I’m asked to do that. I’ll analyze everything else after the season.”
In conclusion, I’m married to a die-hard Giants fan. Judging by her reaction that she will at least see Eli in action one more time, this will come as a high-note in an otherwise lackluster season for the Giants.
