The New York Giants made some sweeping changes over the offseason, with perhaps their biggest change coming at the quarterback position. Gone is last year’s trio of Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, and Drew Lock, and in are Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart.
Heading into Week 1, Wilson has been pegged as the team’s starter, with Dart being named his top backup over Winston. And according to a recent report, the Giants were so impressed with what Dart did during training camp and his three preseason contests that he could end up making his NFL debut in their season-opener against the Washington Commanders in a rather unique fashion.
Giants Have Package of Plays Created for Jaxson Dart
Dart spent time with the USC Trojans and Ole Miss Rebels in college, with his work as a starter at Ole Miss helping turn him into one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. After throwing for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 for the Rebels, the Giants selected Dart with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Some folks were a bit surprised by the pick, as Dart was viewed as more of a second-round pick. Beyond that, he came off the board before Shedeur Sanders, who was believed to be the second-best quarterback in the draft behind Cam Ward in the eyes of many talent evaluators. A strong body of work from Dart over the summer, though, resulted in the perception of this pick changing quite a bit.
In a rather surprising turn of events, Dart is the Giants’ top backup instead of Winston, who was signed in free agency this offseason to fill that role. And according to a report from NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, New York has created a package of plays for Dart that could result in him making his pro debut on Sunday against the Commanders.
“The Giants have prepared a package of plays for their first-round rookie quarterback in the game plan for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Washington Commanders, sources say, after three impressive showings from Dart in the preseason convinced the team he’s ready for regular-season action,” Rapoport and Garafolo wrote. “There’s no guarantee head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will employ the plays for Dart … But the plays are ready to go if needed.”
Will Jaxson Dart Make His NFL Debut with the Giants in Week 1?
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 21: Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants in action during a NFL Preseason 2025 game between New England Patriots and New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won 42-10. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
It’s telling that the Giants are willing to potentially throw Dart into the action right off the bat in Week 1, even with Wilson and Winston also on the depth chart. Dart shined over the summer, and with the team hoping he can become their quarterback of the future, getting him experience against NFL-caliber talent could help his development.
Whether or not Dart actually takes the field remains to be seen, as New York isn’t going to throw him into the action just for the sake of doing so. But fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Dart take the field at some point on Sunday against Washington. With kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, there’s now a bit of extra intrigue surrounding the Giants in their season-opener.
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