Commanders know minor Giants quarterback shuffle can’t be ignored

The Washington Commanders will open their regular season at home against the NFC East rival New York Giants. It's a game they are favored to win, and rightfully so after a sensational first campaign under head coach Dan Quinn.

Veteran Russell Wilson is expected to start at quarterback for the Giants. The long-time Seattle Seahawks signal-caller signed with the team this offseason following underwhelming stops with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. New York also added Jameis Winston to back him up.

However, Winston has unexpectedly been pushed to third-string duties due to the emergence of Jaxson Dart, the No. 25 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. That means if Wilson is injured or underperforms, the Commanders may be facing the intriguing rookie in his first regular-season game.

Commanders must be ready for anything after Giants' quarterback shuffle

There's an obvious worst possible outcome for the Commanders in Week 1, and it's that Dart becomes the story of the afternoon.

Nobody in New York is overly excited about Wilson, but they can't wait to see what the Ole Miss product is made of. If his impressive preseason was any indication, Dart has the potential to work out in this league.

In all likelihood, Dart's regular-season debut won't come until at least a few weeks into the year, and he won't be a full-time starter until 2026. That said, if the Giants bring up the rear in the NFC East once again, and Wilson remains the shell of his old self that he's been ever since leaving Seattle, fans will be screaming to put the rookie in.

Depending on how badly Wilson struggles, those screams may be heard as early as Sunday. In that case, the Commanders had better hope they're prepared, because a quarterback whom nobody knows what to expect from can be one of the most dangerous things in football.

If Dart gets on the field in Week 1, it's a given that he'll be out to make a statement.

The Commanders are no strangers to being clowned by rookie Giants quarterbacks. In 2019, when New York and Washington respectively drafted Daniel Jones and Dwayne Haskins in the first round, it was the Duke standout who got the upper hand in a lopsided Week 4 battle, his first career start at home. Despite ultimately proving to be a below-average starter, he always seemed to have Washington's number.

The Commanders can't afford to let Dart have himself a day at their expense. If he sees any significant snaps, he'll need to be presented with a rude awakening.