Despite the Giants being on their bye week, it was still a busy Sunday for multiple Big Blue quarterbacks, as both Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson appeared on NFL studio shows as guest analysts.
Wilson appeared on CBS Sports’ NFL Today, while Winston appeared on FOX NFL Sunday. Both Giants quarterbacks have made starts this season and offered their thoughts on Jaxson Dart, but with different perspectives.
Wilson Offered Dart His Veteran Advice
In a conversation with former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan on NFL Today, longtime NFL quarterback Russell Wilson opened up about Dart, who took over his starting job in Week 4 against the Chargers.
“I think, first of all, he’s dynamic. Be you, don’t change that. Be special, be competitive. You gotta be competitive,” Wilson said on air.
While Wilson wants Dart to continue to be dynamic, he does not want him to take unnecessary hits. The rookie quarterback has already been in concussion protocol four times and missed two weeks of action due to a big hit he took against the Bears.
Wilson continued, “I remember making plays and running around and spinning out of things, but I think the biggest thing is once you get into free space, being able to get down–I told him in the game the other day after this hit (against the Patriots), I told him, ‘Make sure you get out of bounds. Don’t play with that.’ The good thing about our quarterback room, it’s full of baseball players. We know how to slide; he just gotta do it.”
Dart was back to his old ways against New England, fighting for every yard rather than getting out of bounds. Unfortunately, that caused him to absorb a big hit from Patriots’ linebacker Christian Elliss, which caused him to go flying and resulted in a scuffle between multiple players.
Wilson was known for his penchant for creating plays downfield while scrambling outside the pocket with the Seahawks, but he has also been in the league for many seasons. He knows how to preserve his body and would like to see the Giants’ rookie do the same, because after all, availability is the best ability.
Winston Impressed By Dart’s Relentlessness and Swagger
On FOX NFL Sunday, Jameis Winston was asked to describe Dart, similar to how Wilson was asked, but he took a different tone.
“I think Jaxson Dart is definitely a young superstar,” Winston said, “He’s tenacious, he’s relentless, he loves footballing and today in this nil stage, having a young quarterback coming in and committing and putting in the work every single day is required. He has a certain aura about him. He has some essence around him, and the diamonds around his neck, they’re actually hearts.”
Winston respects Dart, not only for his tenacious mentality and play on the field, but also for his style and moxie that he carries. Like Winston, Dart has an exuberant personality and is unafraid to be unapologetically himself, even if others may not be so fond of it.
After his return against the Patriots, Jaxson Dart has now thrown for 1,556 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 337 yards and seven scores on the ground. He is in the top five for rushing yards among quarterbacks and sits in third for rushing touchdowns.
While Dart’s play style is certainly exciting and gives the Giants’ offense another dimension with his legs, he has to be careful not to take unnecessary hits. But it seems that both Wilson and Winston have nothing but respect for the rookie signal-caller and made that very clear on national television for the entire country to hear.
Wilson, Winston Offer Detailed Jaxson Dart Analysis on NFL Broadcasts