New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson‘s play isn’t making a compelling argument for head coach Brian Daboll to resist starting first-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, for much longer.
Wilson completed 18-of-32 passing attempts for 160 yards with two interceptions, in a dismal 22-9 loss that was loaded with missed opportunities for New York to knock off a vulnerable Chiefs team at MetLife Stadium.
Perhaps the nadir of Wilson’s performance came on a fourth-quarter goal line situation where the 36-year-old tossed four incompletions barely in the same zip code of a Giants pass catcher, sparking the home fans to thunderously boo the offense off the field and chant for Dart.
“I think there’s highs and lows, there’s always tough moments,” Wilson told reporters after the game. “You’ve got to have thick skin, you’ve got to be able to know who you are and the player that you are, know what you’re capable of. I’ve been able to show that throughout my career and obviously last week and everything else too.”
Following Sunday night’s game, the Giants‘ third consecutive loss to open the season, it could prove more difficult for Daboll to keep playing Wilson, especially with a favorable matchup in New Orleans against the winless and hapless Saints looming in Week 5.
Daboll is coaching this season both for his job, and at some point, for the Giants to evaluate Dart’s potential to become a franchise quarterback.
It is difficult to imagine Dart lowering the floor of the Giants‘ passing offense much below Wilson’s meager 59.1 completion percentage with 778 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and three losses.
Regardless of Wilson’s self-belief and confidence, the clock might be ticking much faster towards Dart supplanting him as the Giants‘ starting quarterback.
Brian Daboll Relates to Giants Fans
Sarah Stier | Getty ImagesNew York Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
Wilson wasn’t the only one to notice the fans’ ire at the end of Sunday night’s game.
“Look, I would be booing, too, to be honest with you, in terms of not being good enough, not scoring, not finishing,” Daboll said, via the team’s official transcript. “I understand that. That’s the nature of it. We got to do better.”
Daboll’s Giants have won just three of the past 15 games, dating back to Week 3 of the 2024 season, and have been held under 17 points in 11 of those contests.
Not only must Daboll be used to and understand the fans’ frustrations and boos but he may be running out of time to inspire them to change their tune.
Giants’ Russell Wilson Pushes Back on Calls to Start Jaxson Dart