Giants coach opens door to bench Russell Wilson as Jaxson Dart's role grows
Daboll says all positions under review after Sunday's loss to the Chiefs; Dart's limited action raises questions about the starting quarterback role as the Giants prepare for the Chargers
New York — Giants coach Brian Daboll on Monday did not rule out a quarterback change, signaling that every position is under review after a Sunday night loss to Kansas City and ahead of a matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. In a Zoom session, Daboll said the staff is evaluating “everything” and that decisions will come in the next few days as they study tape from the game. He also acknowledged that while he committed to Russell Wilson after Week 1, he would not rule out starting 22-year-old Jaxson Dart, the rookie drafted 25th overall, this week if the evaluation points in that direction.
The scene at MetLife Stadium reflected the uncertainty. The crowd chanted for Dart late in the first half as he warmed up, and the rookie ultimately appeared for three rushing plays in the third and fourth quarters. Dart has yet to throw an NFL pass in three appearances this season. Wilson, who turned 36 last month, had once posted a career-high 450 passing yards in an overtime loss to the Cowboys in Week 2, but he was intercepted twice by Kansas City, including a pick in the end zone in the second quarter. He completed 39 of 160 passes before halftime and drew boos when he re-entered after Dart’s brief snaps. “I think there’s highs and lows and there’s always tough moments,” Wilson said after the game. “You gotta have thick skin, you gotta be able to know who you are, know the player you are and what you’re capable of. Obviously, I’ve shown that throughout my career and obviously last week too what we’re capable of as an offense. They made a couple of more plays than us [Sunday], but I’m confident in myself and confident in us.”
Dart, the Ole Miss product and 22-year-old quarterback the Giants traded up to select at No. 25, said after the loss that he didn’t hear any chants directed at him and that he is focused on being a good teammate. “I’m just trying to be a really good teammate. It’s hard when the offense isn’t playing up to standard,” he said. In the meantime, the Giants must decide whether to lean on Wilson as the starter or give Dart more opportunities in a year that appears to be about development as well as results.
Daboll’s remarks represented a shift from his stance after Week 1, when he publicly backed Wilson as the starter following a loss to the Commanders. On Monday, Daboll declined to name a starter for the Chargers game, reiterating that the team is evaluating every option and will share its plan in due time. The decision will be closely watched as Dart’s development accelerates and the roster faces a high-profile test against a seasoned Chargers squad that presents a different kind of challenge than the team Dart has glimpsed so far this season.
The Week 4 matchup with the Chargers looms as a crucible for the Giants’ offense, which has shown flashes but struggled to sustain consistency. The club will continue to study tape on protection schemes, route concepts and reads, with an eye toward stabilizing the passing game while balancing the potential for further Dart exposure. If the coaching staff decides to push Dart into an expanded role, it would mark a notable shift in a season already defined by transition at quarterback and a broader effort to build for the future while chasing meaningful wins in the present.
