Facing a 0-3 start, the New York Giants are turning to a rookie quarterback for the first time since starting Daniel Jones in 2019.
ESPN broke the news on Sept. 23 that the Giants have decided to bench veteran Russell Wilson in favor of Jaxson Dart. Dart, the 25th overall pick out of Ole Miss in this year’s NFL draft, is set to make his highly anticipated first start on Sept. 28 in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
His debut will be in front of a home crowd at MetLife Stadium after receiving three snaps against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. In that limited amount of action, Dart was given three quarterback run design plays, which resulted in him rushing for -3 yards.
The decision follows Head Coach Brian Daboll’s statement that he was “evaluating everything” and considering all possibilities. His decision makes Wilson, a Super Bowl XLVIII champion and nine-time Pro Bowler, the new backup, with Jameis Winston retaining his role as the third-stringer.
“In terms of the quarterback situation I’ve met with both [Wilson] and [Dart],” Daboll said during a press conference on Sept. 23. “It’s my decision to go with Jaxson and we’re going to get him ready to play this week and the remainder of the season.”
Wilson’s tenure as the starter concluded after he struggled in the Giants’ home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 21. The veteran threw for 160 yards and two interceptions, while New York fell 22-9 to the Chiefs.
Three incompletions in the RedZone during the fourth quarter led to Giants’ fans booing Wilson off the field.
Just a week prior, Wilson put together a solid outing by throwing for a career-high 450 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Cowboys. His first touchdown came on a 29-yard deep-ball to wide receiver Malik Nabers.
Wilson connected with wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson on a 32-yard touchdown pass, before slinging the ball to Nabers for a 48-yard touchdown.
Yet, a costly interception in overtime led to Dallas driving down the field and kicking the game-winning field goal to seal the 40-37 triumph.
With Dart as the starting quarterback, things can hopefully change for the Giants. His impressive 3-0 record in the preseason, highlighted by victories over the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets offer a glimpse of his potential.
In the preseason, Dart threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns with a 113.1 passer rating. His scouting report showed he “possesses above-average arm strength” and throws with a good touch to layer passes over multiple defenders.
Dart is considered a “good athlete” because of his size, ability to extend plays and effectiveness on quarterback design runs.
However, concerns show, regarding his ability to read defenses, and his throwing efficiency has been noted as inconsistent. Dart also benefited from Ole Miss’ offense, which provided isolated quarterback friendly reads, not a pro-style scheme.
Despite his pitfalls, Dart can show what he’s made of on Sept. 28 when New York takes on the Chargers at MetLife Stadium.
