The New York Giants are without starting quarterback Daniel Jones for the rest of the season with an ACL tear. Backup Tyrod Taylor is on injured reserve with a rib injury, and it’s unclear if he’ll return this season. Although head coach Brian Daboll announced Tommy DeVito as the starter for Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, he isn’t committed to starting DeVito for the rest of the season.
If DeVito struggles this season, there is one quarterback who could replace him. His name is Matt Barkley.
The New York Giants backup fell in the 2013 draft.
Barkley returned to USC for his senior season despite being projected as a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. Before the season started, many had him projected to be the first-overall pick in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately for Barkley, a shoulder injury caused him to slide in the draft.
Barkley separated his shoulder in Week 11 against UCLA and missed the last two games. The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to draft Matt Barkley in the 4th round, 98th overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Barkley had a short tenure with Philadelphia.
Barkley was the third-stringer heading into his rookie season behind Michael Vick and Nick Foles. Barkley got playing time in Week 7 when Foles suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter. He went 11/20 for 129 yards and three interceptions. Barkley got playing time in Week 8 when Foles suffered a concussion and Vick suffered a quadriceps injury. He went 17/26 for 158 yards and one interception.
Philadelphia traded Barkley for a 2016 seventh-round pick on September 4, 2015. Arizona released him on September 3, 2016.
Barkley started in six games in 2016.
Chicago signed Barkley to the practice squad to start the season. They elevated him to the active roster on September 22. Barkley started in six games due to injuries to Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer. He went 129/216 for 1,611 yards, eight touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with a 1-5 record.
After bouncing around with three different teams, he found a new home in 2018.
Before the Buffalo Bills signed Barkley on October 31, 2018, he spent time with San Francisco, Arizona, and Cincinnati during the 2017 season and the 2018 offseason.
He started in Week 10 against the New York Jets. He went 15/25 for 232 yards and two touchdowns in their 41-10 victory. Buffalo signed him to a two-year extension on December 21.
Barkley had another stop with Buffalo in 2022.
After getting released by Tennessee and Carolina in 2021 and Atlanta in 2022, Barkley signed with Buffalo during the 2022 offseason. They released him during roster cuts but brought him back to the practice squad and signed him to a reserve/future contract in January. He ended up getting released during the 2023 round of roster cuts.
Barkley found a new home.
The Giants signed him to the practice squad on October 31. They signed him to the active roster on November 8. Barkley is currently the backup to Tommy DeVito.
Will Barkley get an opportunity to play if DeVito isn’t the guy at QB?
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