Russell Wilson‘s Week 1 struggles have naturally led to calls for the Giants to start first-round pick Jaxson Dart in Week 2.
Head coach Brian Daboll reaffirmed Wilson’s starting status for Week 2 with the goal of keeping him under center for the foreseeable future. However, repeated poor performances will only intensify the pressure to let Dart take over the offense.
The Giants seemed poised to resist, for now. They made it clear throughout the offseason that they didn’t feel the need to start Dart right away. Instead, Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have prioritized his long-term development by keeping him on the sidelines until the coaches are satisfied with is progress, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
A strong preseason from Dart may have “expedited the process,” according to Graziano’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, making it likely that the rookie plays “sooner than later.” The Giants named Dart the backup quarterback to enter the season, signaling their comfort with putting him on the field on game days if needed. Daboll and Kafka also installed a specific package of offensive plays for Dart, though none were used in Week 1.
As a result, it seems more likely that New York would give Dart a chance before going to Jameis Winston. Winston was designated as the team’s emergency third quarterback in Week 1, meaning that Wilson and Dart would both have to get hurt for him to enter the game.
The Giants may also be cautious of playing Dart behind a Giants offensive line that allow pressure on 48.9% of Wilson’s Week 1 dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats (subscription required). Left tackle Andrew Thomas is still working his way back to full health, so the team may not want to throw Dart to the wolves until Thomas is ready to protect his blind side.
Typical wk 1 panicking. Maybe the Panthers, Giants and Dolphins can cover their spreads this weekend?
The Giants have one win against Dallas in the past 16 meetings and that occurred in New Jersey…lol.
And more significantly, “Coach of the Year” Brian Daboll has never beaten Dallas. His Giants lost 40-0 to the Pokes on Sunday Night Football, at home, in 2023. Largest shutout win in Dallas Cowboy history.
As I was saying … maybe the Giants could cover their spread which they did. They should have won the game but started celebrating a win they didnt have yet. Defense allows a final second, 64 yrd FG drive. Wilson then screwed up with the interception.
Why don’t they try getting the Oline right first before going to Dart so he doesn’t get destroyed and have his confidence shaken.
Schoen & Daboll probably need a miracle to keep their jobs and if Dart can go in there and look promising, perhaps Mara gives them a reprieve.
The Giants will panic, throw Dart to the wolves, ruin his development, rather then play Winston….typical Giants 😅
And Tommy Cutlets can’t rescue them cos he’s now with the Patriots.
The ineptitude of this franchise to develop an offensive line is just wild to me, their line has been awful for a decade. Throwing this kid out there could ruin him.
I don’t think any QB would be successful behind this line, no time to throw. Combine that with their terrible and scared play calling- good luck to whoever is under center
Say what you want about Wilson but he had no chance last week
One game in and they’re saying “Russell Wilson is cooked”. And the rest of September is not kind to New York’s blue team.
(Fun fact: this week’s game is the Giants’ first noontime kickoff in Dallas in 20 years — scheduled that way by the NFL so New York can see the Super Bowl rematch in the Fox doubleheader.)
Wilson rebounded this week but the Giants should have won. That Pickens TD was very close. The ball barely went over the goalline.