Pundits expected an injury to New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart to give Russell Wilson hope of starting Sunday in Week 11. But regardless of Dart’s health, Wilson will not start against the Green Bay Packers.
That’s because the Giants have demoted the 36-year-old quarterback again. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday morning New York will start fellow veteran Jameis Winston if Dart doesn’t clear the league’s concussion protocol.
Wilson will be Winston’s backup. Should Dart play, Wilson will be the No. 3 Giants signal-caller.
“More changes for the Giants: Jameis Winston is elevated to No. 2 QB and expected to start Sunday in the event Jaxson Dart doesn’t clear the concussion protocol, per The Insiders,” wrote Rapoport on X.
“Winston was moved ahead of Russell Wilson, as interim coach Mike Kafka informed them.”
Wilson began the 2025 season behind center for the Giants. He started the first three weeks of the season, posting an 0-3 record. Wilson also had a 59.1% completion percentage and 7.1 yards per pass average with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
In Week 10, Wilson entered at the beginning of the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears. Dart departed with a concussion with the Giants leading by a touchdown.
During the fourth quarter, the Giants posted 106 yards but went 1-for-5 on third down. Meanwhile, the Bears scored 14 of the game’s final 17 points to come back and defeat the Giants 24-20.
Wilson finished the contest 3 of 7 with 45 passing yards. He also had 12 rushing yards and two sacks.
Russell Wilson Receives Another Demotion With Giants
Giants fans have been calling for Winston to move in front of Wilson on the team’s depth chart for several weeks. But through Week 10, Giants head coach Brian Daboll remained loyal to Wilson, at least not pushing him lower than the No. 2 job.
But the organization fired Daboll on Monday. One of the biggest early changes interim coach Mike Kafka is making is with the quarterback depth behind Dart.
Even if Dart returned to start in Week 10, Wilson previously had a decent chance of playing again this year before Wednesday’s demotion. Dart has been in and out of the league’s blue tent for injuries often since becoming the Giants starter in Week 4.
But now injuries will have to sideline both Dart and Winston for Wilson to return to the field.
Wilson has appeared in six games for the Giants this season. He has completed a career-low 58% of his passes for 7 yards per attempt.
With the Steelers last season, Wilson had a 63.7% completion percentage with a 7.4 yards per pass average. He also threw 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.
How Wilson Demotion Impacts Steelers
Steelers Nation has a selfish reason to be disappointed with Wilson’s latest demotion.
The more the veteran quarterback plays for the Giants this year, the better compensatory draft pick the Steelers will receive in the 2026 NFL Draft.
So, Wilson starting for an injured Dart in Week 11 would have benefitted Mike Tomlin and company. But again, Wilson won’t play once more this season unless both Dart and Winston are out.
“According to Over the Cap, Wilson had initially been projected to net a fifth-round pick in return. That has now likely fallen to a sixth-round return or worse, though,” wrote Steelers Now’s Aaron Becker.
Wilson owns a 121-80-1 record with 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdowns and 114 interceptions in 205 NFL games during his career. However, he has lost eight consecutive starts, including the playoffs, dating back to Week 15 last year.
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