Veteran quarterbacks Josh Freeman and Matt Flynn are expected to work out for the Giants on Tuesday in the wake of Eli Manning’s ankle surgery last week.
Freeman and Flynn both arrived in New York on Monday, a league source confirmed.
Whether the Giants are looking at Freeman and Flynn as merely extra arms for offseason workouts and training camp or the team is more concerned about Manning’s ankle and the quality of his backups than it is letting on isn’t clear.
The surgery is expected to keep Manning from running for at least six weeks. While that would allow him to return in time for on-field workouts and minicamp, the Giants are expected to be cautious with their franchise quarterback — especially after he endured a career-high 39 sacks last season.
The Giants already have two other quarterbacks on the roster in veteran Curtis Painter and second-year pro Ryan Nassib. When the Giants suddenly decided, a day after Manning’s surgery, to bring in Freeman and Flynn, it cast some doubt on the “camp arms” explanation because experienced veterans aren’t usually interested in that role.
Freeman and Flynn both started multiple regular-season games as recently as last season. Though neither has attracted much interest in the first month of free agency, it would be unusual to settle for a camp-arm assignment so quickly without the promise of a bigger opportunity.
Freeman, 25, has started 60 games in his five-year career with the Buccaneers and Minnesota. Flynn, 28, has started six games in seven seasons with the Packers, Raiders, Seahawks and Bills.
According to reports, the Giants also are interested in receiver Sidney Rice, who was waived by the Seahawks in February and has been cleared to resume football activities.