Giants stick with Russell Wilson as Week 2 starter despite shaky opener
Coach Brian Daboll says Wilson will start at Dallas; rookie Jaxson Dart remains the backup after New York’s 21-6 loss to the Commanders
The New York Giants will start veteran quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys, coach Brian Daboll said Monday, keeping the team’s short-term commitment to the 36-year-old after a disappointing 21-6 season-opening loss to the Washington Commanders.
Daboll announced the decision after leaving the possibility of a change open following the opening-week struggles, but he said the team will proceed with Wilson as the starter for Week 2. The move keeps rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart in a backup role after Dart beat out veteran Jameis Winston during training camp for the No. 2 job.
Wilson, who signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Giants in March and was named a team co-captain, completed 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards in the loss to Washington. He was sacked twice and credited with eight hits, and replays showed him exiting the pocket repeatedly as the offense struggled to gain rhythm.
“We’re going to get home and look at our game,” Daboll said after the loss when asked whether the team might start Dart next week. Daboll added, “This game isn’t on Russell Wilson. It’s not on Russell Wilson. Let me make that clear. I have confidence in Russ. We have to do a better job all the way around.”
The decision preserves the plan the Giants outlined before the season. New York committed to Wilson as its starter months ago, publicly endorsing his leadership and performance throughout training camp. Dart, the Giants’ first-round pick, remains on the roster as the immediate backup and a potential midseason option if the team’s offense does not improve.
The Giants’ organization has precedent for making an early-season quarterback change; in 2019 the team replaced Eli Manning with rookie Daniel Jones after an 0-2 start. Owner John Mara, who approved that prior change, could be expected to consider a similar move if Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen conclude a swap is necessary.
New York faces a challenging immediate slate. The Week 2 road game at Dallas has been framed as a must-win to steady a team that managed only two field goals against Washington. A primetime home opener in Week 3 against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs follows, a matchup that could amplify pressure if the Giants remain winless.
Dart, who entered the season as a developmental prospect, is expected to continue preparing behind Wilson as the coaching staff evaluates game film and offensive execution. The Giants' offense faltered beyond the quarterback position in the opener, Daboll said, pointing to protection, play design and situational execution as areas needing improvement.
The team will return to practice this week and finalize preparations for the trip to AT&T Stadium. Daboll and the coaching staff are expected to review game tape with an eye toward adjustments in protection schemes and play-calling to support Wilson and the offense.
If New York drops to 0-2, a change at quarterback would become a more immediate and visible option, given the presence of a rookie backup with regular-season experience on the sideline. For now, the Giants have chosen continuity at the position as they seek a recovery performance on the road against a divisional rival.