Jaxson Dart, the Giants’ first-round rookie quarterback, likely will make his NFL debut in Sunday’s Week 1 game at the Commanders.
While he won’t start — fading veteran Russell Wilson will — that was the obvious takeaway from NFL Network’s report Sunday morning that the Giants have prepared a package of plays for Dart.
There are no guarantees that the Giants will run those plays, of course. But what does it say that they’re essentially leaking that they have a package of plays for Dart in this week’s game plan to begin with?
It says there’s a good chance Dart plays in Washington, coming off an impressive set of training camp practices and trio of preseason games.
As for when he becomes the Giants’ full-time starter and replaces Wilson for good, well, that depends on how Wilson and the Giants navigate the brutal start to this season. Of their first eight games, just one is not daunting (Week 5 at the Saints).
After the preseason ended, the Giants elevated Dart from third to second on the depth chart, while dropping fading veteran Jameis Winston to the No. 3 spot. That move reflected the reality that existed all preseason: Dart was really the backup, even though he was listed third.
Also, the Giants this past week blatantly violated NFL media protocol by refusing to let Dart or Winston speak to reporters in advance of this Week 1 NFC East showdown in Washington.
Presumably, if Dart plays against the Commanders, he will be permitted to speak.
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Darryl Slater may be reached atdslater@njadvancemedia.com.
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