TAMPA — The promotion of a rookie into the starting lineup this early in a season is usually big news. It happened for linebacker Ryan Connelly but the Giants lost, again. Before long, the ascension of another rookie, Daniel Jones, at another position, quarterback, surfaced as the breaking news.
Connelly, a fifth-round draft pick from Wisconsin, came off the bench and played 26 of the 68 defensive snaps in the opener against the Cowboys. That was enough for the coaching staff to move him up and send opening-day starter Tae Davis to the sideline. Connelly started and played 64 of the 76 defensive snaps in a 28-14 loss to the Bills. Davis did not play a single snap on defense.
Connelly had six tackles in his starting debut and will stay in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.
“There’s a lot of things I definitely can do better,’’ Connelly told The Post. “That’s what you prepare for. The coaches say it all the time: You’re one snap away from playing every play. If you don’t have that mindset you can definitely get caught off-guard.’’
Defensive coordinator James Bettcher made the move to start Connelly and said he “did some really nice things in the game. There are certainly things to clean up and keep growing and improving on. I’m encouraged with where he’s at, but more importantly, the direction he’s heading in.’’
With 5:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bills running back Frank Gore plowed over Connelly on a 1-yard touchdown run. No linebacker wants to be on the wrong end of a confrontation like that.
“I believe he’s the fourth-leading rusher in the history of the NFL, so he knows what he’s doing back there,’’ Connelly said of Gore. “I have to do a better job of getting a little lower, coming downhill a little quicker. Any time someone scores on you, you want it back. I know what I can do to get better on that. I’ll try not to let that happen again.’’