Russell Wilson Says He Doesn't 'Run from Challenges' amid Jaxson Dart, Giants QB Buzz

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson says he is ready to "embrace" the challenge of holding on to his starting job with rookie signal-caller Jaxson Dart as his backup.

"You embrace challenge. I don't think I run from challenges. I don't think I run from anything," Wilson said Wednesday (h/t The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll). "I know how confident I am in myself."

Wilson was then asked if he had wondered if the Giants would change quarterbacks after Sunday's season-opening loss to the Washington Commanders.

"I never blink. I know who I am and know what I bring to the table," Wilson said, per Carroll.

Wilson went 17-for-37 for 168 yards, adding 44 yards on eight carries and scoring no touchdowns in his Giants debut against the Commanders.

The Giants got within three yards of the end zone in the fourth quarter, but Wilson threw four incomplete passes to end the drive.

Wilson finished the game having averaged 4.5 yards per attempt, with an average depth of target of 6.7 yards, per Pro Football Focus' Mark Chichester.

The Giants quarterback attempted just one pass of more than 20 yards downfield and did not connect for a reception, per Chichester.

"For me, personally, my confidence never blinks. I've been through everything," Wilson said Wednesday. "I've bene through all the biggest highs there could be. I've been through a few lows. But at the same time, I also know that my confidence never wavers.

"And I think that confidence, one, comes from experience, and two, just from the work."

Wilson concluded, "I'm excited to play football again, and to do that today like we did today. I thought it was a great practice."

The Giants set up a season full of speculation about the possibility that Dart will make his debut this year after placing the first-round pick behind Wilson and ahead of Jameis Winston on the team's unofficial Week 1 depth chart.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported before the Giants' season opener that coach Brian Daboll and his staff had "prepared a package of plays" for Dart as part of the team's game plan against the Commanders.

"Three impressive showings from Dart in the preseason convinced the team he's ready for regular-season action," Rapoport and Garafolo wrote.

Daboll said after the loss to the Commanders there was no point where he had considered putting Dart into the blowout loss.

When asked on Sunday if Dart could start in Week 2, Daboll answered, "Look, we're gonna get home... we're gonna look at our game. Collectively, we all got to do better."

Daboll continued, "I got confidence in Russ. We're going to go back, we're going to evaluate the tape. This game is not on Russell Wilson."

The Giants coach confirmed Wednesday that Dart would remain in the QB2 spot heading into Week 2.

"Each day, we're trying to groom him, and when he has to play, then he's ready to play," Daboll said. "But as a young quarterback, there's so many different things that you're going to have to go through. There'll be ups and downs. But in terms of the process that we're doing with him, each day he does a little bit better."

Given the recent struggles of first-round picks elevated to starting quarterback roles too early in their development, the best-case outcome for the Giants could be Wilson bouncing back and Dart being used in a more sheltered role during his rookie season.

Wilson will look to improve his campaign to remain QB1 next Sunday when the Giants return to action with a road game against the Dallas Cowboys.