Are Giants getting Jaxson Dart ready to play sooner than some think?

Regardless of how some New York Giants fans and media members feel about the subject, Giants head coach Brian Daboll has made it clear that Russell Wilson will serve as the club's starting quarterback over rookie Jaxson Dart for the Week 1 game at the  Washington Commanders on Sept. 7. 

However, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News has suggested that the Giants could have a "Dart package in their Week 1 Washington game plan" on the first Sunday of September.

"Daboll has continued to challenge the rookie with new opportunities and looks, all the way through Tuesday’s final padded preseason practice before Thursday’s exhibition finale against the New England Patriots," Leonard wrote about Dart. "...The Giants aren’t simply developing the first-round pick out of Ole Miss. They are preparing him to be able to play early this regular season if or when he’s needed. They are trying to test him enough in preseason practices and games so that he’ll be able to hand le the real thing in September when called upon."

The fact that the Giants seem serious about holding onto veteran Jameis Winston indicates he and not Dart will be New York's QB2 versus Washington. Additionally, a review of the game film shows that Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka kept "things simple for Dart with screens and isolation routes" over the club's first two preseason contests. 

That said, the Dart hype train picked up momentum after he scored a rushing touchdown and completed a combined 26-of-35 pass attempts for 291 yards with two scores over the Giants' first two preseason games. In the eyes of some fans, such stats show Dart should get the nod for the Giants' Week 2 game at the Dallas Cowboys in the event that Wilson looks past his prime against Washington.

"Dart’s decision-making has been solid so far," Leonard added. "Teammates are raving about his study habits and play recognition. And his mobility gives him an ace in the hole against pressure."

Even if Dart looks like the next Patrick Mahomes in Thursday's preseason finale against the Patriots, he almost certainly will be a backup for the Commanders game. But perhaps he'll see the field sooner than many people think.