New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart got his first career NFL start on Sunday, leading his team to a Week 4 victory over the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers.
The Giants benched veteran signal-caller Russell Wilson after an 0-3 start. Sunday’s 21-18 win over the Chargers was arguably the most efficient New York’s offense has looked this season, besting the Chargers in first downs (20 to 17) and time of possession (35:28 to 24:32)..
Dart connected on 13 of his 20 pass attempts in the home win at MetLife Stadium, logging 111 yards and a passing touchdown. The No. 25 overall pick out of Ole Miss also recorded 54 rushing yards and another TD score on the ground.
During his postgame press conference, Dart thanked Wilson for the veteran mentorship leading up to his first career start.
“I’m just grateful to have the guys around me that I have,” Dart told reporters. “Obviously I want to give a big shoutout to Russ. I know that this week probably wasn’t the easiest thing, but he handled it like a professional and was a mentor for me. I just have a ton of respect for him. That goes for Jameis [Winston] as well.”
Wilson, who started all three games in the Giants’ 0-3 start, said all the right things after his benching earlier this week, openly accepting his role as Dart’s veteran mentor.
“I know that I’m going to respond in the right way every day,” Wilson told reporters this past Wednesday.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll was impressed by the way Dart handled himself through his first NFL start, saying he “played well, within himself.”
Wilson briefly came in for Dart after the rookie took a big hit on one of his 10 QB runs. After a quick evaluation in the blue medical tent, Dart cleared concussion protocol and returned to the field.
“I know [Dart] is probably going to be sore, he gutted it out. Son’s a tough son of a you know what. He’s tough, I knew that,” Daboll said in his postgame press conference.
Dart and the Giants will look to build off this positive momentum in a Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.
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