Jameis Winston will start at QB for Giants vs. Packers with Jaxson Dart still in concussion protocol

Jameis Winston walked to the podium at the Giants practice facility Wednesday with a smile and a song ready to sing.

“We finally made it,” Winston sang before taking questions.

Winston will make his first start at quarterback this season on Sunday after interim head coach Mike Kafka met with him on Monday. Jaxson Dart remains in concussion protocol after the rookie was injured in last Sunday’s loss to the Bears.

Dart didn’t play in the fourth quarter after being hurt in the third and Russell Wilson struggled coming off the bench. It’s the first major move for Kafka taking over after coach Brian Daboll was fired Monday.

“He'll do a great job. I have a lot of confidence in Jameis,” Kafka said. “Have a lot of confidence in Russ and he'll be the backup as Jaxson works through the concussion protocol.”

Kafka added that tight ends coach Tim Kelly will be offensive coordinator while Kafka retains play-calling duties as he’s done all season. He added there wouldn’t be any additional coaching changes for now.

Winston’s most recent start was in Week 15 with the Browns last season. He started seven games that year and threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The former No. 1 overall pick in 2015, Winston is on his fourth team after stints with the Buccaneers and Saints. He signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Giants this offseason.

"This is something I've been doing since I've been four years old, and now I just get to do it in the greatest city in the world. I've been saying it with my son: 'It's the Greatest City in the World’.” Winston said, singing a lyric from the musical "Hamilton".

It also means the Giants, who have lost four straight games, have started three different quarterbacks for the third straight season. Winston is also the second Black quarterback to start for the Giants this season: the franchise had started two in its 100-year history prior to this season when Wilson opened as the starter.

Wilson went 0-3 before he was replaced by Dart. Winston has been the emergency third quarterback all season but has been a key mentor to Dart.

"I think Jameis has done a great job since he's been here,” Kafka said. “I got good feel for those guys, and I think Jameis will do a heck of a job. He's a great leader, he has a lot of production in this league and I think he's going to do a great job leading that group.”

As for Dart, Kafka said he remains on track going through protocol. He also said no decision was made on who’ll be Dart’s backup when he’s cleared to return.

Winston’s known as a high-risk, high-reward quarterback. In 2019, he led the league in passing yards (5,109) and interceptions (30). His final pass for the Browns was an interception, one of three by him in a 21-7 loss to Kansas City.

But his experience gives the Giants a leg up from last season, when Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito replaced Daniel Jones.

“He might not be able to run as well, but the ball still jumps out of his hands,” receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said of Winston. “Still able to get the ball wherever it needs to be and making the reads where he’s supposed to go. Just look forward to that on Sunday.”

For Wilson, it’s yet another demotion after signing a one-year contract with the Giants this spring. Before Sunday, he appeared in two games for two plays each when Dart was evaluated for concussions.

Wilson said he hadn’t asked for his release and wants to stay with the Giants through the season.

“I love it here. I love my teammates,” Wilson said. “I want to see us turn it around. I know God has a great plan for me. I don’t know what it is today, this second, as I stand here… But I want to see this through.”

He’ll once again see it as a backup with Winston leading the way. Yet Winston made clear that his joy to play doesn’t take away from his desire to win.

“I think we are just ready for a win. And I think that's the consensus,” he said. “So, I think this city, this stadium, we are willing to do any- and everything for the New York Football Giants to be celebrating at the end of the day.”

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.