Say what you want about Russell Wilson — and yes, he played poorly in relief of the injured Jaxson Dart in Sunday’s Giants loss in Chicago — Wilson has shown himself as nothing but a top-end team player since the Giants signed him in the offseason.
Wilson did not complain when the rookie Dart took his starting job, and he did not complain when he was demoted yet again Tuesday — essentially to third string.
With Dart in concussion protocol, one of the first things Giants interim coach Mike Kafka did when he took over for head coach Brian Daboll, who was fired Monday, was to name Jameis Winston the starter for Sunday’s game against the Packers at MetLife Stadium.
With Dart out for the game, Wilson will be the backup. But, when Dart returns, that would put Wilson as the emergency third quarterback.
“Obviously, I want to play, but Jameis has worked his butt off, so this is a great opportunity for him,’’ Wilson said. “The guy’s played in this league for a long time, and he’s one of my closest friends. He can spin the rock. He’s a great leader for us. I know he’ll do a great job.
“I’m going to help him prepare the best way possible. We have great dialogue. And I’ll be ready to go [as the backup].’’
Wilson said he “felt ready to go last game,’’ referring to the Giants’ 24-20 loss to the Bears.
After Dart left the game with a concussion late in the third quarter with the Giants leading 17-7, Wilson completed only 3 of 7 passes for 45 yards, and the Giants managed only three more points the rest of the game.
“We thought we were going to win the game there, but it didn’t work out,’’ Wilson said.
Kafka called Wilson “a true pro’’ with the way he handled the news that he was being demoted.
“I know he’s been through a couple tough things,’’ Kafka said. “The way he responds is unbelievable. I have a ton of respect for Russ. He’s going to be the backup this week, [so] he’s one play away, just like he was last week. So, we need him.
“He’s a crucial part of our offense. He’s a crucial part of our unit and our group and our leadership group. So, I’d expect nothing less from him and how he would respond to the news.’’
Wilson is 0-3 as a starter this season, having completed just 58 percent of his passes with three TDs and three INTs.
Kafka was asked what changed with Wilson, considering his accomplished résumé as a Super Bowl winner and the fact that the last time he played he put up prolific numbers against the Cowboys (450 passing yards and three TDs).
He was intentionally evasive with his answer.
“That’s a valid question because I love Russ, but … it’s like I don’t want to continue to revisit that,’’ Kafka said. “Russ understands the direction we’re going moving forward. That’s really where our focus is — like today and moving forward, and Russ is part of that plan. His role is defined as the backup, and he’s ready to attack that role.
“We had a good conversation. I’m sure it wasn’t necessarily easy for him. I understand the human element of it. But Russ is one of the best team players I’ve ever been around. He’s one of the best locker room guys I’ve ever been around, and I know he’ll attack this role with everything he has.’’
Kafka, asked if Winston will become the backup when Dart returns to play, said, “For this week, this is where it’s at, and we’ll just evaluate it.
“Jaxson is in the protocol. We’ll make that decision and go through it, but right now we’re just going to live in this week and live in just today.’’
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
