NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport posted on X this afternoon that Russel Wilson would start for the New York Giants in their Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) on X
#Giants coach Brian Daboll announces that QB Russell Wilson will start Sunday vs the #Cowboys.
There was some thought that the Giants could switch to either first-round pick Jaxson Dart or veteran Jameis Winston as their field general against the Cowboys. It was not a thought-process without merrit.
Wilson was uninspiring in his New York debut, going 17-of-37 for 168 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions, and taking two sacks. He also contributed 44 yards on eight carries but did cough up a fumble, albeit one the Giants recovered.
With that milquetoast performance, some Dallas fans wondered if they’d be seeing someone else under center for their division foe. Dart drew rave reviews in the preseason and training camp for his processing and arm talent. He also flashed mobility and running skills closer to a younger Wilson than what the modern version can provide. The potential is alluring, and something that New York and their fans are looking forward to exploring.
Winston, on the other hand, is a known commodity at this point. While eminently meme-worthy, he is still an incredibly talented quarterback. While his famous 33 touchdown and 30 interception 2019 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an extreme example, it is a microcosm of the high risk, high reward approach that Winston has taken for a decade in the NFL.
The thinking, then, is that either Dart or Winston offer a higher ceiling than the incumbent starter Wilson. If the Giants are going to be bad again, why not at least be entertaining, an adjective that hasn’t described Wilson for nearly five years.
But with Brian Daboll likely coaching for his job this season, he is likely to stick with the safe approach. For now, that would be Wilson. While letting Russ cook might result in something more akin to a frozen dinner than a Michelin star meal, at least the Giants know what they’re getting. If Dart or Winston were to be in the kitchen, the outcome could range from burnt water to high end Texas BBQ. The Giants are opting for something that is at least palatable.
No matter what the Giants put on the Cowboys plate, their defense is likely to be hungry. After a strong but somewhat unfinished showing in the season opener, that side of the ball is unlikely to play with their food again.