Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart 'wants to be a spark, create excitement' on the field

Jaxson Dart started warmups Wednesday stretching and jogging back and forth with Abdul Carter to his left and Cam Skattebo to his right.

All three Giants rookies had varying degrees of promise entering this season. Carter and Skattebo showed glimpses through three games. Now it’s Dart’s turn after coach Brian Daboll named him starting quarterback “for the remainder of the season.”

Unlike most 22-year-olds out of college, Dart wasn’t nervous about starting a new job. But like his peers, he called his parents first after Daboll informed him and Russell Wilson on Tuesday of the change.

"I'm ready. It wasn't anything extra," Dart said. “You always say ‘I'm going to prepare each week the same.' But in all reality, you have different responsibilities as the starter.”

It’s a challenge Dart knows from three years starting at Ole Miss. There’s just a higher degree of difficulty doing it in NFL, especially when you’re still building chemistry with your receivers.

But at 0-3, the Giants' season is slipping away. The offense needed something different with two games under 10 points. Enter Dart, the first-round pick who went from the future hope to the present option starting Sunday facing the Chargers at MetLife Stadium.

“I expect him to prepare. I expect him go out here and get better each time he played,” said Daboll, who said often this was his decision. “It's not always going to be perfect, but I do think that he has the right makeup and athleticism.”

Brian Daboll explains the decision to start Jaxson Dart as Giants quarterback “for the remainder of the season” pic.twitter.com/ySswaMpyKD

— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) September 24, 2025

Dart’s teammates all found out on social media Tuesday just like everyone else. They also vowed to support him.

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said Dart was one of his favorite players coming out of college because of his attitude along with talent.

“He’s my quarterback now so I’ll be by his side and roll with him to the end," Lawrence said.

During open portions of practice viewed by media, Dart and Wilson settled into their new roles. Dart threw with Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton. Wilson threw behind them.

For the first time in his 14-year career, Wilson was designated a backup. While it was difficult, he said he'd supporting Dart while adjusting to what he called the latest round of adversity.

“For me, right now, I think it's really about the team and really about helping Jaxson the best I can possibly can,” said Wilson. “I just told him, I got your back when and whatever I can help you with. Help him get prepared the best he can possibly get prepared.”

Wilson added he’s not done career-wise and believed he could still help the Giants. It signaled that, for now, he would not seek his release or a trade to continue his career.

However that plan looks, it’s secondary to the Giants empowering Dart now. He gave them a peek in his six-play cameo over the last two games and now he wants to keep it going over a full game.

"The biggest thing for me is I want to do my best to be a spark,” he said. “I want to create excitement on the field. I want to be explosive when opportunities are there and just try to bring a little bit of swagger.”

As for pressure ahead of Sunday or worrying about saving his coach’s job? Dart wasn’t worried.

“The best players in the world are the ones that are involved with that word, pressure,” he said. “I don't feel it in that standpoint. My focus is just trying to win one game at a time.”

He deflected talk of being the Giants’ savior, saying that’ll require everybody as a unit being in sync, not just one player.

At the same time, Dart wasn’t drafted as just another piece but a foundational one. Sunday is his first chance to prove he’s worthy of that role as he begins his journey as a starting quarterback.

“When I step in between those lines, nothing else in the world matters to me except doing everything that I can to win,” Dart said.

Gano out for Sunday

Daboll said kicker Graham Gano (groin) is out Sunday so new practice squad signee Younghoe Koo will compete for the starting job with Jude McAtamney… WR Malik Nabers (shoulder), TE Theo Johnson (toe) and DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot) didn’t practice Wednesday… LB Darius Muasau returned and was limited after being in concussion protocol last week.