New York Giants’ season opener draw more attention because of drama than the score. Quarterback Russell Wilson was poor in his debut, while rookie Jaxson Dart watched from the sidelines, and a heated altercation between head coach Brian Daboll and wide receiver Malik Nabers only added to speculation about the team’s dynamic.
However, despite the ongoing and obvious tension, Daboll has been clear as day addressing his stance: Russell Wilson is still his starter.
A rough start for Wilson
Wilson went only 17 of 37 for 168 yards and no touchdowns in Sunday’s 21-6 defeat to the Washington Commanders. The offense was not as expected, and there were boos from home fans as well as further doubts about whether the 36-year-old veteran can ever again lead an NFL huddle.
With Dart performing brightly in the preseason, whispers soon began circulating that Daboll might have to close it down prematurely. Asked after the game with a question about whether he considered benching Wilson, Daboll was straight up: “I did not.”
The Nabers confrontation
Fueling the fire, cameras captured a big sideline interaction between Daboll and young receiver Malik Nabers. The footage appeared to show Nabers waving off a handshake from his head coach, sparking online discourse.
Nabers then downgraded the incident to non-story.
“I was just trying to get guys going. Two competitive people going at it. We both want to win,” he said.
Daboll confirmed that, describing it as nothing more than the heat of competition:
“That’s all it is. Two competitive people understanding where we’re at and where we want to be.”
The Giants feel the pressure
The Giants signed Wilson with the expectation that his veteran presence would calm the offense, but Week 1 provided more questions than answers. Daboll stood up for his quarterback, maintaining that the loss was not solely on Wilson. But with a mere 38 percent of passes completed and an offense looking out of sorts, Wilson’s spotlight time is far from over.
Fans and supporters already are clamoring for Dart, whose preseason attitude indicates he may be the future of the team. Whether Daboll will make that change if trouble persists is yet to be determined.
What is next for The Giants
For the time being, Daboll maintains Wilson is his quarterback. Yet with a hungry fan base hungry for results and a skilled rookie in the waiting line, the leash most likely will be short.
The Giants come into Week 2 with the knowledge that the narrative is not so much about losses and wins anymore, it is about trust, leadership, and whether or not this locker room can follow behind an old veteran who may be fighting for his last shot.
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