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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Eli Manning’s streak is over. Geno Smith will start for the Giants in Week 13.

Wow.

NFL: Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants
NFL: Los Angeles Rams at New York Giants
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.

When the Giants take the field against the Raiders in Week 13, Eli Manning won’t be under center. The team announced Tuesday that Geno Smith will get the start on Sunday.

Rookie Davis Webb will also get some playing time over the next five games.

“Geno will start this week,” head coach Ben McAdoo said. “Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give Davis an opportunity.”

Smith played in two games for the Jets last season — taking over for Ryan Fitzpatrick in a Week 6 game and starting in Week 7. He went 8 of 14 for 126 yards in the two appearances with one touchdown and one interception, but tore his ACL in his only start after just eight passes.

McAdoo said the Giants need to assess what Smith and Webb can do.

“This is not the way it should be, but unfortunately, it’s where we are,” McAdoo said. “Our number one priority every week is to go win a game, but we owe it to the organization to get an evaluation of everybody on the roster, and that includes at the quarterback position.

“I’ll say it again, I have the utmost respect for Eli and everything he has done for this organization throughout his career. He is the consummate professional.”

Manning has started every game for the Giants since Week 11 of the 2004 season.

Manning said that he was given the option of starting to keep that 210-game starting streak going. But Manning opted to just stay on the sideline rather than start for the sake of starting and knowing he’d be pulled for Smith or Webb at some point.

“My feeling is that if you are going to play the other guys, play them,” Manning said. “Starting just to keep the streak going and knowing you won’t finish the game and have a chance to win it is pointless to me, and it tarnishes the streak.

“Like I always have, I will be ready to play if and when I am needed. I will help Geno and Davis prepare to play as well as they possibly can.”

General manager Jerry Reese insisted this move had nothing to do with Manning’s performance this season.

“This is not a statement about anything other than we are 2-9, and we have to do what is best for the organization moving forward, and that means evaluating every position,” Reese said. “I told Eli this morning that an organization could not ask for any more in a franchise quarterback. He has been that and more.”

Manning’s missing top receiver Odell Beckham Jr., starting center Weston Richburg, and wideout Brandon Marshall, who are all on injured reserve. He’s working with the 26th-ranked ground attack in the NFL that’s averaging just 91.3 yards per game. And he’s taken 26 sacks already this season. Still, Manning has managed to throw for 14 touchdowns against just seven interceptions this year.

He said he understands where the team is coming from, even though he wants to play.

“I want to compete, I want to be out there for my teammates to help them prepare to win,” Manning said. “I understand that there are tough decisions that have to be made in the best interest of the organization, especially as a season like this winds down. This is one of those tough, uncomfortable decisions.”

Manning got emotional, understandably, talking about it. He probably knows that his time with the Giants is all but over.

The Giants are 2-9 and staring down a lost season. But benching Manning still comes as a surprise.

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