Rex Ryan wants the Giants to make the switch.
The former Jets coach said Monday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up” that Russell Wilson “can’t play anymore,” and the Giants, who lost to the Commanders 21-6 on Sunday, should see what first-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart can do, even if they have the Cowboys, Chiefs and Chargers over their next three games.
“You’ve got to put [Dart] in because Russell Wilson can’t play anymore, and I don’t know what the hell you’re doing with him,” Ryan said. “There’s never an easy time. Everybody has good players. What are you afraid of? Is it gonna be worse? Hell no. Put him out there, let him go, let him ride, and let’s see. Look, if all of a sudden this guy becomes a real player, which we all assume he will. I think the kid’s got talent. He looked really good — he outplayed Russell Wilson head and shoulders in the preseason. Put him in there. What are you doing? You’re gonna play a guy that can’t do it anymore? Stop.”
Former Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody agreed with Ryan and cited wide receiver Malik Nabers getting upset on the sideline as one of the reasons why the Giants should go with Dart.
“I’ve seen enough. One week was enough for me,” Woody said. “Anytime your superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers is losing it, Week 1, during the game, Malik Nabers is losing it, and if you lose that guy, the one legitimate talent that you have on the offensive side of the ball, you lose him, you have major problems.”
Giants head coach Brian Daboll would not commit to starting Wilson in Week 2 after Sunday’s loss, though he said he has “confidence” in the 36-year-old.
“This game isn’t on Russell Wilson. I want to make that clear,” Daboll said.
Wilson was 17-for-37 with 168 yards in his Giants debut, adding eight rushes for 44 yards.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
