Devin Singletary ‘surprised’ how he’s turned into a Giants afterthought

Hours after the Giants learned that Saquon Barkley was headed to the Eagles, their plan to replace him at running back was revealed when they came to a contract agreement with Devin Singletary. 

There was no pounding on the table insisting that Singletary was an elite player in the Barkley stratum, but his price tag (three years, $16.5 million) was more in line with what general manager Joe Schoen envisioned for the position.

Singletary started the first four games, missed two games with a strained groin and upon his return to health has been a less-than-part-time backup to rookie Tyrone Tracy. 

“Yeah, I’m surprised,’’ Singletary told The Post. “That’s just where we are right now.’’ 

Where the Giants (2-11) are is languishing, especially on offense.

It is true that Tracy rushed for 129 yards in his first NFL start, a victory in Seattle.

Tracy ran for 145 yards in a loss in Pittsburgh and 103 yards in a loss to the Panthers in Munich. 

Tracy lost a fumble in that game on the first play in overtime and lost a fumble the next week in a loss to the Buccaneers.

That led to head coach Brian Daboll re-inserting Singletary into the starting lineup in the Week 12 Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys, but it was a cameo, with Singletary getting seven rushing attempts in that game to Tracy’s nine. 

Singletary had just two rushing attempts in last week’s loss to the Saints. 

“It’s really tough,’’ he said “I don’t know any backs getting two or three carries going crazy.’’ 

The two-back system Singletary envisioned — with him as the lead back — has not materialized.

He has just 33 carries in the past seven games.

Tracy has 84.

Using two backs in a more equitable system is commonplace about the league, but Singletary has devolved into an afterthought within the Giants’ offense. 

“[A two-back system] definitely can work,’’ Singletary said. “I don’t call the plays, I don’t make that decision.’’ 

Daboll was the offensive coordinator with Singletary for three seasons in Buffalo, so it is not as if there is a lack of trust.

Singletary logged a career-high 216 rushing attempts in 2023 with the Texans, and his 89 this season is on the way to a career low — he had 151 rushing attempts as a rookie in 2019.

While Singletary says “it’s been fun to watch’’ Tracy, the lack of usage is unwelcome, as is the freshness in his 27-year old body. 

“I feel great,’’ Singletary said. “This is the first year I feel this great in December. That’s just what’s been going on this year. Not used to it, I don’t plan on getting used to it but that’s just where we’re at right now.’’ 

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Tim Boyle will serve as the backup quarterback to starter Tommy DeVito, with Drew Lock dealing with a heel issue and the emergency No. 3 quarterback.

Boyle, 30, went 0-2 as a starter last season for the Jets and is 0-5 in his six-year NFL career. 

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It is rare for a team to be a 16-point favorite playing on the road.

The Ravens (8-5) are that team, thus they heard questions this week about steering clear of overconfidence. 

“That’s more of an outside looking in view on the game,’’ Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. “Their record versus our record, you’re just assuming something, but those guys play in the NFL, too, and they’ve got a lot of talent over there. I mean, we lost to the Raiders, who are [2-11] right now, so you can’t really go into a game thinking that. You’ve got to go play every single game. So, I think we have that mindset, and we’re locked in on the Giants.”