Lead: Interim Giants head coach Mike Kafka said Wednesday he has moved Jameis Winston ahead of Russell Wilson on the team’s quarterback depth chart. Winston will serve as New York’s No. 1 quarterback until Jaxson Dart is cleared through the NFL’s concussion protocol. Wilson began the season as the starter and yielded the role to Dart after three games; he also played in two games while Dart was under evaluation. Winston, who signed with the Giants this offseason, has not yet appeared in a regular-season game for New York and will take the team through practice prep for the upcoming Packers matchup.
Key Takeaways
- Mike Kafka announced the depth-chart change at a Wednesday press conference, marking his first major roster decision as interim coach.
- Jameis Winston is listed as the Giants’ No. 1 quarterback until Jaxson Dart is medically cleared under the league concussion protocol.
- Russell Wilson opened the season as the starter and started the first three games before Jaxson Dart took over.
- Wilson appeared in two games while Dart underwent concussion evaluation and handled the final quarter of last Sunday’s loss after Dart was ruled out.
- Winston signed with the Giants in the offseason and has zero regular-season snaps for New York; he started seven games for the Cleveland Browns last season.
- Winston will participate in practice this week as the team prepares to face the Green Bay Packers.
Background
The Giants entered the season with Russell Wilson starting at quarterback; after three games the club handed control to rookie Jaxson Dart. Dart’s subsequent concussion evaluations removed him from availability, producing short-term stability questions at the position. New York signed veteran Jameis Winston during the offseason as depth and experience behind the starters, though he had not taken a regular-season snap for the club prior to this change.
The NFL concussion protocol governs medical clearance and imposes a stepwise process for return-to-play, meaning a timeline for Dart’s return can be uncertain. Depth-chart moves like this are common when teams face medical unknowns at a high-leverage position, and interim coaching staffs sometimes make early roster decisions to establish clarity for practice plans and game preparation.
Main Event
At Wednesday’s news conference, Kafka confirmed reports that the Giants shifted Winston above Wilson on the depth chart. The team listed Winston as QB1 while Dart completes the league’s concussion protocol. Kafka framed the move as a short-term, health-driven adjustment rather than a definitive long-term change.
Russell Wilson had started the first three games of the season before Jaxson Dart assumed the primary role; Dart’s concussion evaluation removed him from at least one contest, and Wilson saw limited action during that period. In the most recent game, after Dart was ruled out, Wilson handled the final quarter, a sequence Kafka cited when explaining the lineup adjustments.
Winston, who started seven games for the Browns last season, will step into the primary preparation role this week and take first-team reps in practice ahead of the game at Green Bay. The Giants emphasize that the designation is tied to Dart’s medical clearance rather than an immediate personnel decision about the long-term starter.
Analysis & Implications
The move gives the Giants a clear short-term plan at quarterback, prioritizing immediate readiness for Sunday’s game against the Packers. Placing Winston at QB1 means the offense will prepare around his footwork, play-familiarity and available package in practice, which could affect snap allocations, protection calls and situational play-calling during the week.
For Winston personally, the opportunity is notable: despite signing with New York this offseason, he has not logged regular-season snaps for the club. His seven starts for Cleveland last year provide recent game experience, but transitioning into a new starting role on short notice challenges timing with receivers and in-game cadence.
For Russell Wilson, the demotion to backup while Dart is unavailable raises questions about how the team will balance veteran stability with developing young talent. If Winston performs well, the Giants will face a delicate roster and developmental decision once Dart is medically cleared. Conversely, a subpar showing could accelerate broader changes at the position or in offensive approach.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Starts with Current Team (this season) | Appearances while Dart evaluated | Regular-season games with Giants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jameis Winston | 0 (signed this offseason) | 0 | 0 |
| Russell Wilson | 3 (opened season) | 2 | N/A |
| Jaxson Dart | Entered after 3 games | Under concussion evaluation | Rookie — started after Week 3 |
The table summarizes available, confirmed counts: Wilson opened the season as starter for three games; Winston has not yet appeared in a regular-season game for the Giants; Winston started seven games for Cleveland last season (noted elsewhere). These comparisons underline that the move is driven by availability and recent starts rather than a multi-week performance trend within New York.
Reactions & Quotes
Winston will be the team’s No. 1 quarterback until Dart is cleared through the league concussion protocol.
Mike Kafka / Giants (interim head coach)
The depth chart was updated Wednesday to reflect Winston above Wilson while Dart remains in evaluation.
New York Giants (team depth chart)
Analysts noted the designation is a medically driven, temporary step that allows the offense to prepare consistently for the upcoming game.
NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk (media analysis)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Jaxson Dart will miss only the immediate game or face a multi-week absence — no official clearance timeline has been released.
- How long the Giants plan to keep Winston as QB1 after Dart is cleared — the decision may hinge on game performance and medical updates.
- Any internal reasons beyond health status that influenced Kafka’s depth-chart move have not been publicly detailed.
Bottom Line
The Giants have prioritized short-term clarity at quarterback by naming Jameis Winston QB1 while Jaxson Dart completes concussion protocol steps. The change allows the offense to install a consistent week-long plan and provides Winston an immediate chance to lead practice and game preparation against Green Bay.
What to watch next: whether Winston’s practice reps translate to game readiness, how the Giants’ offense executes under his direction, and the timing of Dart’s medical clearance. Those outcomes will shape whether this is a brief, health-driven adjustment or the start of a longer-term shift at the position.