Russell Wilson's first game in a new uniform did not go as expected as the New York Giants failed to make a difference against the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon.
The veteran quarterback, once a Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler, struggled to find his rhythm in blue and red, throwing for just 168 yards on 17 completions with zero touchdowns on the board.
On paper, it looked like another rough outing from a player past their prime. But the story of Wilson's debut and the Giants' reliance on him is bigger than a single game. In an era where rookie quarterbacks are put on the backburner, NFL teams continue to choose veterans to lead their teams despite the risks of an aging player.
For the Giants, bringing in Wilson represented a chance to stabilize an offense that had wavered in recent years. Wilson's career has been nothing short of exceptional.
Entering his 14th season in 2025, Wilson has passed for more than 46,000 yards, thrown 350 touchdowns and compiled a winning record as a starter. During his time with Seattle, Wilson led the team to eight postseasons and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.
A field-ready quarterback with those credentials can provide leadership to a huddle and set higher standards in the locker room, which is something that can take a rookie time to accomplish. But Sunday showed the harsh reality of these sorts of expectations. Wilson looked like he was still searching to mesh with his new teammates, and even drew harsh criticism for his performance.
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But this isn't a problem unique to Wilson. Some of football's greatest quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady endured rocky starts after shifting teams late in their careers. The tradeoff for this level of talent is the weight of the expectations put on the player. Wilson has been tasked to do the impossible, and lead a struggling offense that hasn't seen consistent playoff appearances since the 2000s. With rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in tow, Wilson's credibility will continue to be questioned.
But the Giants' season, and Wilson's for that matter, still has a long way to go. Whether or not the veteran will see the field over the No. 25 overall pick for the rest of the season is yet to be seen. For now, Wilson's challenge will be proving the Giants' belief in him right, and showing that he still has more highlights to come.
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