The New York Giants have fully embraced the Jaxson Dart era, benching veteran quarterback and former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson in favor of the promising rookie after Week 3 of the NFL season. Wilson, now relegated to the backup role, has handled the transition with notable grace and professionalism.
Since his demotion, Wilson has entered the game for two brief relief stints over the past three weeks, but the results in that limited sample size have been underwhelming. In the Giants’ hard-fought victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football last week, Wilson stepped in for one play while starter Dart underwent a concussion evaluation. Unfortunately, he sailed a pass well over wide-open receiver Jalin Hyatt, highlighting ongoing concerns about his readiness.
These lackluster appearances have fueled growing calls among fans and analysts for Jameis Winston to replace Wilson as Dart’s primary backup. New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll fielded questions on the quarterback depth chart during his Wednesday press conference, offering measured insights without committing to changes.
Russell Wilson remains the Giants backup quarterback, per Brian Daboll.
Why?
“Because he’s our backup quarterback.” #Giants
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 15, 2025
Meanwhile, Daboll emphasized a disciplined, “business as usual” mindset as the Giants prepare for their pivotal matchup against the Denver Broncos this weekend, amid the surging excitement surrounding the team’s revitalized offense.
“Business as usual. We have a very tough team to get prepared for. You only have a certain amount of time,” he told reporters. “Nothing really changes relative to preparing for a team. Meeting-wise, film study, walkthroughs. We adjust here and there, whether we want to do some more red zone today or third down or do this, but we are focused. We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us. All these guys are doing everything they can to put themselves in a good position for Sunday.”
Dart’s dynamic, aggressive playing style — particularly his penchant for scrambling — undoubtedly exposes him to heightened injury risks, making the backup quarterback position a perennial hot topic for the Giants.
A compelling case exists for elevating Winston to the No. 2 spot irrespective of recent events: The Giants have Winston under contract through the 2026 season, providing long-term stability, whereas Wilson is slated to hit unrestricted free agency at the conclusion of this year.
Upon handing over the starting reins to Dart, Wilson publicly affirmed his commitment to the team’s success, stating he remains dedicated to contributing in any capacity. That said, should Wilson be further demoted to third-string status, speculation abounds that he could request a trade or outright release to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Although Wilson’s backup tenure shows promise, his rattled performances in relief could prove short-lived if patterns persist. Ideally, the Giants will avoid relying on their backups altogether moving forward. Yet, given Dart’s fearless running approach, New York may face similar scenarios throughout the remainder of the 2025 NFL season.
As the Giants navigate this quarterback transition, fans eagerly await how Dart — and his supporting cast — will perform against a formidable Broncos defense.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Brian Daboll: Russell Wilson will remain New York Giants’ backup QB
