Brian Daboll: Giants sticking with Russell Wilson as starting quarterback, offensive issues 'a collective effort'
While Brian Daboll was non-committal after Sunday's loss regarding his team's quarterback situation moving forward, the head coach made it clear on Monday: Russell Wilson will continue as the team's starter.
When asked on Monday if Wilson will continue as the starting quarterback, Daboll replied with a concise yes."
Russ will be the starter," he later added.
Wilson's Giants debut was anything but smooth, as the veteran completed just 17 of his 37 pass attempts for 168 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He was also sacked twice as the Giants failed to find the end zone in the 21-6 loss, leading to questions about whether now is the time for the team to turn to first-round pick Jaxson Dartat quarterback.
Daboll said on Monday that the struggles on offense were a collective effort," which echoed what he said after Sunday's loss.
I'd say [Wilson] made good decisions," said Daboll. We missed on one-on-one matchups, sometimes it's the throw, sometimes it's the contested catch. It's not just Russ, when you talk about this whole thing, it's the entire offense, everybody."
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates his rushing touchdown during the second half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Daboll also clarified on Monday that he and his staff would never make a major decision like changing the team's starting QB immediately after a game.
After a game, it's an emotional game, tough game, we didn't play particularly well collectively, but in terms of making any of those decisions, really at any position or dramatic changes, you have to do it with a clear head and watch the tape," the head coach explained. Again, like I said yesterday, that game doesn't fall on Russell Wilson. We've got to do a better job collectively, coaching, playing, but Russ will be the starter."
Wilson, a former Super Bowl champion now in his 14th NFL season, signed a one-year, fully guaranteed $10.5 million contract with the Giants this offseason. But the team also traded back into the first round to select Dart with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
So if now is not the time, when exactly could we see a switch from the veteran to the rookie?
"We have confidence in Russ. And we're doing everything we can do each week to develop Jaxson," Daboll said. He spends a lot of time in the building, spends a lot of time after practice going through things that he needs to go through to prepare himself to be -- if he gets called upon -- to be ready to go. And that's what we'll continue to do."
"We'll just do what we think is best for our football team."