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Colin Cowherd Feels Bad for Jaxson Dart After Giants’ QB Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 4:13 PM ET

It only took three games for the New York Giants to bench Russell Wilson after signing him to a one-year, $10.5 million deal in March. Now, they'll see what they have in No. 25 overall pick Jaxson Dart.

The Giants announced they were switching to the rookie on Tuesday, via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. His first start will come against the Los Angeles Chargers, who rank fourth-best in the NFL with 16.7 points allowed per game.

That's a difficult first assignment for Dart, but New York is looking for a spark after starting 0-3 with Wilson. The veteran ranks 30th in football with a 34 QBR and threw all three of his touchdown passes against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

The Volume sports commentator Colin Cowherd said that he thinks the Giants are putting Dart in a tough position, via his show "The Herd."

"I have sympathy for Jaxson Dart. The Giants are at home, and they're facing the Chargers," he said. "Since he's been the Chargers' coach, Jim Harbaugh is 4-0 against rookie quarterbacks. They average 14 points a game and complete barely 60 percent of their throws. So Jim Harbaugh, like the great coaches, owns rookie quarterbacks."

"I think one of the reasons they're starting Dart is that the owner [John Mara] doesn't want the home crowd chanting 'Dart, Dart, Dart' again," he continued. "It's embarrassing for him...[Dart's] the junior coder who’s been hired to overhaul the software of the company and he’s just trying to find the break room."

"He’s the junior coder who’s been hired to overhaul the software of the company and he’s just trying to find the break room."@colincowherd feels bad for Jaxson Dart ahead of his first NFL start pic.twitter.com/GQk8Ep4ImR
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 25, 2025

Jaxson Dart Must Lean on Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo

For Dart to have any chance of success against Los Angeles, he must feed Malik Nabers. The game-breaking wideout had nine catches on 13 targets for 167 receiving yards and two touchdowns in New York's 40-37 overtime loss to Dallas, which was its only one-possession contest of the season so far. He had five receptions or fewer in each of the other two games.

The Chargers will likely double-team Nabers consistently, but Dart must find him whenever the LSU product gets any separation. That will help open up the run game, which will help fellow rookie Cam Skattebo shine.

The 23-year-old carried the Giants' offense in Sunday's 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries to go with six catches and 61 receiving yards. If he continues to succeed against Los Angeles, it'll at least keep New York in the game.

The Giants will host the Chargers at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will be on CBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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