Giants quarterback Russell Wilson was 17 of 37 for 168 yards in a 21-6 loss to the Commanders on Sunday.
Giants quarterback Russell Wilson was 17 of 37 for 168 yards in a 21-6 loss to the Commanders on Sunday.Nick Wass/Associated Press
Russell Wilson will start at quarterback for the New York Giants in their second game of the season Sunday at Dallas, coach Brian Daboll said, keeping the veteran in the role after a lackluster performance in the opener rather than turning to rookie Jaxson Dart.
Daboll made the announcement on Wilson remaining the starter on a video call with reporters Monday less than 24 hours after not committing to the 36-year-old getting the nod again.
“I have confidence in Russ, and we’re doing everything we can each week to develop Jaxson,” Daboll said.
Wilson was 17 of 37 for 168 yards in a 21-6 loss to Washington. The Giants did not score a touchdown in Week 1 for a third consecutive year.
“I’d say he made good decisions,” Daboll said. “The 1-on-1 matchups: sometimes it’s a throw, sometimes it’s a contested catch. It’s a collective [effort]. It’s not just Russ. It’s the entire offense — everybody. It starts with me, coaches, players. We’ve got to do a better job collectively. ”
Dart, a first-round pick whom the organization hopes is the future at the position, dressed as Wilson’s backup ahead of Jameis Winston, but is still awaiting making his NFL debut.
Receiver Darius Slayton said he and his teammates have full confidence in Wilson and disagrees with the outside noise calling for Dart to play.
“That’s the natural thing these days in the sport of football, which is unfortunate at all levels of football — even at the college level, the pro level — is that everybody wants new, as soon as they think that things aren’t going well,” Slayton said.
“This league is tough, and you see players get chewed up and spit out all the time by this league, which is something that I would never want to happen to him. ... [Wilson is] going to play good ball, we’re going to play good ball as an offense and whenever Jaxson’s time comes, it comes.”