Jaxson Dart is making waves after Week 1! NFL insiders are buzzing, and Dart says "this is just the beginning
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is committed to starting Russell Wilson at quarterback in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, but it sounds like big changes could be coming.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter suggests that Daboll could be nearing making a quarterback change, in favor of ascending first-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“I think we start with the New York Giants,” Schefter said, during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “The fact that Brian Daboll, the head coach, declined to commit to Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback after [Sunday’s] game, despite repeated chacnes to do so, the time to go to Jaxson Dart, the Giants’ rookie first-round draft pick is coming.
“We don’t know whether it’s going to be this week, next week, next month, but make no mistake about it, Jaxson Dart’s time as the starting quarterback is coming.”
While there has always been an assumption that Dart would play at some point during his rookie season, this marks the first time that a reporter with Schefter’s network of sources and pedigree has hinted that a quarterback change could be relatively imminent for the Giants.
Behind a patchwork offensive line on Sunday afternoon, Wilson managed just 168 passing yards on his way to a meager 59.3 passer rating as he absorbed two sacks and eight quarterback pressures while sailing several passes badly off target, in a 21-6 shellacking by the Commanders.
Daboll could be looking to spark the Giants’ offense by inserting Dart, who was one of the brightest stars across the league during the preseason.
The No. 25 overall pick, out of Ole Miss, passed for 372 yards with three touchdowns while completing 37-0f-47 passing attempts during the preseason slate before being elevated to the Giants’ No. 2 quarterback role for the season opener.
When might Jaxson Dart make first Giants start?
Scott Taetsch | GettyGiants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart did not play in New York’s opener, despite being elevated to the No. 2 quarterback spot.
The Giants’ strength of schedule is among the most difficult in the NFL, so there might not be an ideal opportunity to ease Dart into the lineup, which might be why Daboll and staff reportedly had a package of plays in place for Week 1 against Washington to get him some snaps without pressing him into the starting role.
Given that New York’s next three games come against the division-rival Cowboys, in Dallas, against the Kansas City Chiefs, before hosting the Los Angeles Chargers, it might be a bit closer to Schefter’s “next month” prediction before Dart leads the offense out of the tunnel and onto the field.
Week 5 in New Orleans against the Saints could present as soft a landing as the Giants will find on the schedule for Dart to make his first start, before returning home the following week to host the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, at MetLife Stadium.
Whether the Giants’ offensive line improves and if Wilson can bounce back from a shoddy performance in his New York debut could certainly impact the timeline and pressure Daboll feels to get Dart onto the field, but it sounds like Wilson’s role as the starter is anything but secure, at this point.
Eagles Make Shocking Deal For ‘Underrated, Underused’ AFC South RB
For much of the offseason we’ve wondered what Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was going to do with a war chest of draft picks accumulated over the last few years.
The answer has been — pretty much anything he wants.
Roseman’s wheeling and dealing stayed at an electric pace following Philadelphia’s Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, with the Eagles sending a 2025 fifth round pick and 2025 sixth round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for third year running back Tank Bigsby.
“Trade: Jaguars are sending RB Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on September 8.
Bigsby creates a crowded running backs room in Philadelphia with reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley, A.J. Dillon and Will Shipley already on the roster.
Bigsby was a grossly underrated and underused weapon last season in Jacksonville with 820 yards of total offense and 7 touchdowns in 16 games with just 1 start while playing behind Travis Etienne.
‘Underrated’ RB Shined During SEC Days
Bigsby, 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2020 with 918 yards of total offense and 5 touchdowns for Auburn. He earned All-SEC honors each of the next 2 seasons as he racked up over 1,100 yards of offense each year and 10 touchdowns in both 2021 and 2022.
Bigsby finished his college career with an impressive 3,354 yards of total offense and 25 touchdowns in 3 seasons before leaving school early for the NFL. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at the NFL scouting combine and the Jaguars selected him in the third round (No. 88 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein actually predicted Bigsby might shine in a “Dynamic Duo” sort of backfield in the NFL in his pre-draft evaluation.
“Fumbling has been a concern in the past, and he might not be much help on third downs or special teams,” Zierlein wrote in 2023. “His size, creativity and quickness could create an opportunity for teams to pair Bigsby with another back to form an effective tandem in a zone-scheme rushing attack.”
Eagles Backfield Could Be Moveable Object
Shipley was effective in a backup role to Barkley against the Cowboys with 3 carries for 26 yards but was forced to leave the game with a rib injury — he might not be right physically to play in Week 2 against the Chiefs.
Dillon, a free agent signee, wasn’t effective awhen he had the ball with 3 carries for 10 yards — he just might not be the right fight.
Enter Bigsby, who could thrive in his first chance playing for a competent NFL franchise. The Jaguars were 13-21 over his first 2 seasons, including a 4-13 record in 2024.
“The eagles running back room has to be the best in the league right?” X user Malibu wrote on his official account following the trade.
“To those who don’t know… Tank Bigsby is legit,” X user Rob Hodge wrote. “Only 24 years old… Rushed for 766 yards and 7 TD’s last season. Perfect RB2…”
“Tank Bigsby is a legit good running back” SB Nation’s Will Rucker wrote on his official account. “Howie is always going to strike when he feels he can get value. This is your RB2a
