Sports

Jameis Winston to start for Giants against Packers if Jaxson Dart isn't cleared

Mike Kafka's first big move as the Giants' interim head coach is to make a change at quarterback.

In the event Jaxson Dart isn't cleared from concussion protocol in time to start Sunday's game against the Packers, it will be Jameis Winston getting the start -- not Russell Wilson -- per multiple reports.

Winston had been QB3 all season, but is usurping Wilson on the depth chart.

Wilson has struggled in all but one game this year (his huge Week 2 performance against the Cowboys in Dallas), and his issues continued in Week 10 against the Bears after Dart was injured. With Wilson unable to move the ball, the Giants stalled out on offense as they surrendered a late 10-point lead and lost. 

That defeat led to the firing of Brian Daboll and the ascension of Kafka.

With New York at 2-8 and severely depleted due to injuries to Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Darius Slayton, Winston will have a steep hill to climb if he is indeed under center on Sunday.

Winston, 31, inked a two-year contract worth $8 million this past offseason, so he could possibly be the backup next season behind Dart. 

Meanwhile, the clash against Green Bay will be Kafka's first at the helm as he looks to make a strong impression.  

Terry McLaurin will begin on-field rehab work this week

The Commanders have already ruled wide receiver Terry McLaurin out for Week 11, but he is taking a step back toward the lineup.

Head coach Dan Quinn said that McLaurin will begin doing on-field rehab work in Madrid this week. McLaurin has missed six games with a quad injury already this season, including the last two contests.

The Commanders have a bye week, so McLaurin could be back for their next game in Week 13 if all goes well.

Quinn also said that the team expects running back Chris Rodriguez to play against the Dolphins after injuring his shoulder last week. Safety Will Harris will also return to practice and open his 21-day return window from injured reserve.

Jameis Winston moves ahead of Russell Wilson, will start if Jaxson Dart can't

The Giants have a new No. 2 quarterback. Who might need to be their No. 1 quarterback on Sunday against the Packers.

Jameis Winston has leapfrogged Russell Wilson on the Giants' quarterback depth chart, according to multiple reports. Winston is now No. 2 on the depth chart and Wilson is No. 3.

With starting quarterback Jaxson Dart still in the concussion protocol, it's likely that Winston will start for the Giants on Sunday against the Packers. Winston has yet to play for the Giants this season. He started seven games for the Browns last season.

The Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll this week and replaced him with interim head coach Mike Kafka, and this quarterback shakeup is Kafka's first major decision. Wilson has not played well for the Giants this season, so it's unsurprising that Kafka wants to see if Winston can give the Giants' offense a spark.

The Giants view Dart as their franchise quarterback of the future, but in the present the top priority is keeping him healthy, and so they're likely to be very cautious with clearing him to return to the field. With or without Dart, Kafka will want to show that the offense can produce, and Kafka thinks Winston can do it better than Wilson.

More Articles …

  1. Giants reportedly expected to start Jameis Winston over Russell Wilson if Jaxson Dart can't play
  2. Dolphins expect Chop Robinson to be cleared for Sunday
  3. Mike Tomlin "certainly open" to possibility of playing Marquez Valdes-Scantling this week
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