Russell Wilson was handed the Giants’ starting quarterback job this summer, but he might not keep it long into the fall.
Wilson and the Giants’ offense struggled today in a season-opening 21-6 loss to the Commanders.
Giants first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart is currently Wilson’s backup, but Dart looked good enough in the preseason that many fans will want him to start, especially after Wilson could generate only two field goals today.
Wilson averaged just 4.5 yards per pass and a 45.9 percent completion rate, completing 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards. He was the Giants’ leading rusher with 44 yards on eight carries. The Giants need more passing and less rushing from Wilson.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels went 19-for-30 for 233 yards with a touchdown, and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a strong debut with 10 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. Deebo Samuel was the Commanders’ leading receiver with seven catches for 77 yards.
The Commanders have high hopes for Daniels’ second season, and nothing that happened today dashed those hopes. The Giants need to see if Dart can be the same kind of exciting young quarterback that Daniels is.
Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney said that he’d be a game-time decision this week and the call didn’t go the way he was hoping.
Mooney is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. He was listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury that has limited him in practice.
With Mooney out and right tackle Kaleb McGary on injured reserve, the Falcons are without two of their projected offensive starters for the season.
Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud, KhaDarel Hodge, Casey Washington, David Sills, and Jamal Agnew are the other Falcons wideouts.
Steelers at Jets
Steelers: LB Nick Herbig, OL Max Scharping, OL Andrus Peat, DL Esezi Otomewo, DL Derrick Harmon
Jets: WR Allen Lazard, TE Jelani Woods, T Esa Pole, DE Braiden McGregor, DL Leonard Taylor
Cardinals at Saints
Cardinals: OL Will Hernandez, RB Bam Knight, CB Kei’Trel Clark, CB Elijah Jones, LB Xavier Thomas
Saints: S Jordan Howden, DL Vernon Broughton, DT Khristian Boyd, WR Trey Palmer, G Xavier Truss DE Chase Young, G Trevor Penning
Dolphins at Colts
Dolphins: QB Quinn Ewers, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Ethan Bonner, TE Darren Waller, OL Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Zeek Biggers
Colts: CB Johnathan Edwards, RB Tyler Goodson, QB Riley Leonard, TE Will Mallory, LB Chad Muma, T Luke Tenuta, DE JT Tuimoloau
Raiders at Patriots
Raiders: RB Raheem Mostert, G Caleb Rogers, DT Leki Fotu, DT JJ Pegues, LB Brennan Jackson, T Charles Grant, S Tristin McCollum
Patriots: G Caedan Wallace, LB Anfernee Jennings, WR Efton Chism III, DT Eric Gregory, QB Tommy DeVito, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Charles Woods
Giants at Commanders
Giants: T Andrew Thomas, S Beau Brade, OL Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone II, DL Darius Alexander, QB Jameis Winston
Commanders: RB Chris Rodriguez, QB Josh Johnson, LB Ale Kaho, LB Kain Medrano, T Trent Scott, T George Fant, DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
Panthers at Jaguars
Panthers: WR Jimmy Horn Jr., T Ikem Ekwonu, WR Dalevon Campbell, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson
Jaguars: CB Montaric Brown, OL Wyatt Milum, OL Cole Van Lanen, DL Danny Striggow, DT Maason Smith, DL B.J. Green II
Bengals at Browns
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, OL Matt Lee, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DT McKinnley Jackson, DT Howard Cross III
Browns: QB Shedeur Sanders, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Zak Zinter, T KT Leveston, WR Gage Larvadain
Buccaneers at Falcons
Buccaneers: WR Chris Godwin, T Tristan Wirfs, CB Benjamin Morrison, CB Christian Izien, RB Josh Williams, TE Devin Culp, CB Kindle Vildor
Falcons: WR Darnell Mooney, DL Sam Roberts, CB Clark Phillips III, S DeMarcco Hellams, RB Nate Carter, LB Josh Woods, OL Jack Nelson
Giants rookie Jaxson Dart’s strong preseason wasn’t enough to earn him the starting quarterback job, but it might have earned him some Week One playing time.
The Giants have prepared a package of plays for Dart that they may use today against the Commanders, according to NFL Network.
Whether those plays actually get called may depend on how well Wilson plays and how the game is going otherwise for the Giants. If it’s a close game and Wilson is playing well, head coach Brian Daboll won’t want to take him out. But if the game isn’t close, or if Wilson is struggling, it may be time to see if Dart can give the Giants a spark.
The 25th overall pick in the draft, Dart looked very good in the preseason and beat out Jameis Winston for the No. 2 job. It’s only a matter of time before Dart becomes the Giants’ starting quarterback. And it may only be a matter of hours before Dart takes his first snap as a Giant.
Russell Wilson is the Week 1 starting quarterback for the Giants. And he was available, as all starting quarterbacks are, for a midweek press conference.
His two understudies, Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston, did not speak to reporters. At all.
Via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, the Giants have made neither Dart nor Winston available to reporters, even though all players are required by league rules to be available during each game week.
As explained by Leonard, a Giants P.R. staffer interrupted a “cordial, non-football conversation” between Dart and reporters at his locker, explaining that the backup quarterbacks won’t be talking.
The Giants later said requests to interview Dart and Winston could be submitted, and that the requests would be “considered.” The Giants have since denied multiple requests to interview the No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks from the NFC team in the country’s largest media market.
“The way we operate remains unchanged,” the Giants said, via Leonard. "[W]e do not schedule weekly availability with the backup quarterback, regardless of their draft status or salary. The starting quarterback has a set weekly availability. However, if you’re working on a story that specifically requires input from the backup quarterback, we are open to arranging a conversation.”
As Leonard notes, Giants backup quarterbacks have been consistently available to reporters in past years.
Leonard also explains that the Giants have said Dart will be available after the Week 1 game against the Commanders, “if he plays.” The rules sweep more broadly; all players must be available after each game, whether they play or not.
The team’s approach is unconventional, and a bit bizarre. They’re trying to limit access in order to prevent any questions or answers that could complicate the plan to ride with Russ, unless and until the change is made from Wilson to Dart.
It looks like the Giants will have to wait at least one more week for left tackle Andrew Thomas to get the green light to return to the lineup.
Thomas is listed as doubtful to play against the Commanders in Week 1. Thomas suffered a season-ending foot injury last year and spent most of camp on the physically unable to perform list before being activated in late August.
Thomas practiced on Wednesday and Friday, but his listing leaves him unlikely to play. James Hudson is the likely choice to take over at left tackle.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers does not have an injury designation. He did not practice on Friday due to back tightness, but head coach Brian Daboll said there was no concern about his availability for Sunday.
