The Russell Wilson era with the New York Giants got off to a horrendous start on Sunday.
New York dropped its third straight season opener, losing to the Washington Commanders 21-6, with Wilson and the Giants’ offense looking abysmal. The veteran quarterback threw for just 168 yards and completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes against a Commanders defense that was practically in his face on every snap.
As expected, calls for first-round pick Jaxson Dart to take over as the G-Men’s starting quarterback have already begun. Wilson is on a one-year deal, and the Giants’ schedule doesn’t get any easier with a Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Even though Brian Daboll has all but confirmed that Wilson will start next week, is it fair to ask whether Wilson is finished as a starting quarterback in the NFL?
Russell Wilson already testing Giants’ patience after Week 1 flop
In an article for Bleacher Report, Kristopher Knox looked at the biggest overreactions post-Week 1, with Wilson making the list. He argued that after his disappointing debut, it’s time for Dart to take over, with the 10-time Pro Bowler no longer looking like an elite quarterback.
"Given New York's daunting schedule through late October, though, there are reasons to keep Dart on the sideline for now, even if Wilson isn't a title-contending quarterback, " Knox wrote. "The Giants should see if they can steal a few wins with Wilson by midseason. If they can't, they can turn to the rookie, but they should also jettison Daboll, who just watched his former quarterback play like an MVP candidate."
Ever since drafting Dart, Daboll has preached the importance of developing him into the Giants’ hopeful franchise quarterback for the next decade. While that long-term vision remains, it’s still fair to argue that we should see Dart sooner rather than later.
After a very impressive preseason, the hype around Dart is real, and he deserves the chance to prove he can translate that success into the regular season. The offensive line certainly didn’t help Wilson on Sunday, as he faced pressure on nearly every snap. But he’s not the future of the team. Dart is.
There needs to be a serious conversation heading into the Giants’ Week 2 matchup against Dallas about Wilson’s leash as the starter, especially if he struggles again. If Big Blue falls to 0-2 and the offense lays another egg, it should be Jaxson Dart time.