Not many expected Russell Wilson to suit up for the New York Giants in last week’s preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. On the morning of the matchup, the NFL world was shocked to hear that Wilson would be getting the nod to start.
It didn’t have anything to do with a quarterback battle between the trio of Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart, and Wilson. It was as simple as Wilson wanted to play, and head coach Brian Daboll let him.
“I definitely wanted to play,” Wilson said last week. “Anytime you get to be in the white lines, it’s a good thing. It’s a blessing. Man, I’m just grateful to wear the blue, and what a great day it was. Dabs and I were both on the same page. He knew I wanted to play and vice versa. He wanted me to play, and I was ready to go. I love playing.”
Will Wilson make it two weeks in a row? Daboll wasn’t so sure on Thursday. While the head admitted that the Giants “have an idea” of which starters will play, and who will ride the bench, nothing was sorted out for certain.
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“We’ll do what we think is best for the team,” the head coach told reporters on Thursday morning. “We’ll go out here, have our walk-through today, sit down with the medical staff, get their input where the guys that have been not practicing are, who can play, who can’t, and decide what we’re gonna do.”
For what it’s worth, Daboll sounded like he embraces the idea of getting the starting quarterback in the mix for some time, since games can’t truly be simulated in practice. With Wilson wearing that red jersey every day, he’s off limits to the defense.
“There’s no substitute for tackling, there’s no substitute for cleaning the pocket, no substitute for run after catch when you’re going to get hit, there’s no substitute for being live as a quarterback in the pocket,” Daboll added.
Perhaps that’s a sign.
At the same time, Wilson has plenty of experience. Being in the NFL as a full-time starter since 2012, the live reps aren’t as important for him as they are for a rookie like Jaxson Dart. But if the Giants are able to get Wilson out on the field to get him in rhythm as best as they can before the regular season, they should get the veteran his reps in his new system.
This year, Wilson is playing for a different team for the second season in a row. Last year, Wilson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers after spending some time with the Denver Broncos. In Pittsburgh, Wilson started 12 games, including a playoff matchup. With the Giants, he’s expected to be the Week 1 starter. That first game will mark his 200th regular-season game.
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