Giants' Brian Daboll on his quarterback: 'I'm not saying who's starting or who's not starting'
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants walks off the field after a game against Kansas City at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After an 0-3 start, Giants coach Brian Daboll was noncommittal Monday on Russell Wilson remaining as his starting quarterback.
Daboll said he’s still “going through the tape” to work out all personnel decisions, not just at quarterback. The Giants had a team meeting earlier and he was planning to meet with the quarterbacks later in the day.
“I’m not saying who’s starting or who’s not starting," Daboll said. "I’m just saying we’re evaluating everything right now."
It was a different tone than what Daboll said after the season-opening loss at Washington. He didn’t initially commit to sticking with Wilson but the following day, he said Wilson would remain the starter.
Wilson threw for just 160 yards on Sunday night, his lowest total in three starts. He had two interceptions as well and has thrown zero touchdowns in two of his starts. In the red zone, he's 4-for-20, the lowest completion percentage this season for any quarterback who has completed a pass inside the 20-yard line.
Wilson was also booed in the second half of Sunday night's 22-9 loss to Kansas City at MetLife Stadium. It was especially loud when he entered back in after rookie Jaxson Dart had checked in to play three snaps on two different drives.
Daboll previously said that he wanted Dart to reach certain check points before he starts. While the first-round pick has only played six plays in the last two games — four handoffs and two runs — Daboll said there’s enough trust in him when he’s in play.
“Well, we put him in the game for the last two weeks," Daboll said of Dart, "so we wouldn’t put anybody in the game we don’t feel confident with."
The Giants’ offense had 506 yards against the Cowboys in Week 2 but has been otherwise anemic. Sunday night was the seventh time since the start of last season they’ve been held under 10 points. According to ESPN, that’s the most over that span.
Wilson has had two games with fewer than 200 passing yards. On Sunday, Malik Nabers had just two catches for 13 yards — both career lows — and was visibly frustrated with yet another defeat in his two NFL seasons.
The Giants' red-zone issues were laid bare again in embarrassing fashion. They had first-and-goal from the Kansas City 4 with 3:15 left. Facing heavy pressure, Wilson’s first pass went high and out of the end zone and he was called for intentional grounding.
The next play, Wilson ran up the middle for a 4-yard gain. He then threw two passes high and out of the end zone without giving his receivers a chance.
“It's the National Football League. Look across the league, there are tight games, close games,” Wilson said. “We've been in all the games that we’ve played with a chance. I think that's what you want. Obviously, what we really want is to be able to win them.”
It was reminiscent of the season opener, when Wilson’s final four passes were incompletions from the Commanders' 3. The Giants are 31st in red-zone efficiency, a reason why Daboll has prepared Dart to come in and play zone-read packages in those situations.
Dart’s last two plays started at the Kansas City 21 with 12:34 in the fourth. Both plays were handoffs to Cam Skattebo that gained a combined 12 yards.
Wilson returned on second-and-7 at the Kansas City 9 and only gained two yards on two plays before Graham Gano’s 25-yard field goal. Fans booed Wilson entering and leaving the field.
It was a far cry from the hope Wilson was expected to bring when he signed in March. Instead, he’s been the latest quarterback to struggle in this offense and looked like the player who had difficulty his previous three seasons.
Daboll left the door open Monday for a possible change. Whether it's Wilson or Dart, the Giants are ready to stand with who takes first-team snaps this week at practice.
“I believe it’s the job of everybody, the other 10 people in the offense to support the quarterback, whoever that may be,” receiver Darius Slayton said. “To the best of my knowledge now, it’s Russell. If the powers that be see that there’s a change there, then I’ll do my best to support whoever’s in that position next.”
Injury updates
Daboll didn’t confirm reports that running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. suffered a dislocated shoulder. He said updates on Tracy and Gano (groin) would come Wednesday. Left tackle Andrew Thomas played 28 snaps Sunday, three more than the Giants' intended plan of 25. Daboll said he came out good after leaving the game.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
