There is Jaxson Dart the teammate and there is Jaxson Dart the competitor.
The former is focused on his current job as Giants backup quarterback, doing everything he can to help prepare starter Russell Wilson and the rest of Big Blue. The latter can’t help but want to be out there on Sundays and build on his sterling preseason.
It is a balancing act for the rookie first-round pick out of Ole Miss as he waits his turn.
“As a competitor, I don’t have a blast watching from the sideline. But it’s just the way that it is,” Dart said on Friday, in his first public comments since training camp. “My job is just to do what I can control and when I’m sitting there, I’m itching. You just want to compete. You want to be out there.
“In some ways, you kind of feel like a fan a little bit when you’re on the sideline. So, it’s a little bit different of a feeling of what I’m used to, but I’m just trying to shift my perspective.”
It is a challenge, especially since Giants fans are already clamoring to see the kid after just one shaky performance from the Wilson-led offense in a Week 1 loss to the Commanders. Dart is doing his best to be ready, taking mental reps during practice when he isn’t leading the scout team, and then getting in extra work after practice with third-string quarterback Jameis Winston. The two and other backups at different positions will go through the entire offensive script to stay sharp.
Dart takes pride in helping prepare the starters. Last week, he was Jayden Daniels. This week, he is Dak Prescott.
“I did a little bit more running last week when I was acting like I was Jayden, versus this week of acting like I’m Dak,” he said. “Cadence wise, you definitely try to marry those things up. I’m doing the Dak ‘Here we go’ cadence and that stuff. It’s fun because I’m able to take time to watch those other quarterbacks around the league and kind of see the things that they do at a really high level.”
Odds are, the 22-year-old Dart will be starting sooner than later, although it is uncertain exactly when that will be. Right now, Wilson is the starter, and Dart is focused on helping the veteran lead the Giants to a victory over the Cowboys on Sunday.
“My job is just to be the best teammate for Russ,” he said.
There is a benefit to watching. As a quarterback, there are only so many things you can see. There is a different vantage point from the sideline.
“You see with [Packers quarterback] Jordan Love right now, being able to take his time, and now he’s shining,” Winston said.
Added Dart: “I think that it’s going to help me learn a lot. It’s definitely helped me prepare, because now I’m able to see adjustments that we can make every time we come off the field. See what adjustments the defense is making. So, I kind of see it through a coaching lens almost, of just being able to see the full picture.”
Dart was asked which route he would prefer, the one taken by players like Love and Patrick Mahomes, who watched before they played, or getting thrown immediately into the fire, as Peyton Manning was. He can see both ways being beneficial, and they have worked out for others.
But don’t take that as Dart being content with sitting or feeling unsure about being ready.
“I’m confident in myself, so whatever opportunity happens, or whatever may happen, I’m preparing for that opportunity,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to go out there and succeed anytime I’m on the field.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
