EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants are planning to bench quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of first-round rookie Jaxson Dart after three games, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
Dart’s first start will come at home on Sunday against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium. The 25th overall pick this year out of Ole Miss served as the backup to Wilson the first three games of the season.
The Giants (0-3) also have veteran Jameis Winston on the roster.
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Head coach Brian Daboll left open the possibility to make a change at quarterback on Monday afternoon when he said the team was “evaluating everything.” He refused to declare Wilson the starter.
Wilson struggled in Sunday night’s 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He threw for 160 yards and tossed a pair of interceptions. There was also an ugly red-zone possession late in the contest where he threw the ball out of bounds on fourth down and he was booed late in the first half after the second interception.
The switch to Dart is a move that could reinvigorate a disappointed fan base. Fans cheered when the rookie came on the field for a snap in the second quarter on Sunday night. They later booed after Wilson threw a second-quarter interception in a tie game in his first home game with the team.
Dart’s been preparing for this moment ever since the Giants traded back into the first round to get him to New York. He’s done nothing but impress since taking the field in the spring. Dart started the spring with the third-team offense and quickly worked his way past Winston early in the summer.
His first extended taste of regular season NFL action will come against a Chargers defense that is currently allowing less than 300 yards per game.
But Dart will give the Giants’ offense a different look and more options. His ability to run the ball and the zone-read had his version of the offense looking vastly different than the first-team unit with Wilson throughout the summer.
