On Wednesday, Giants head coach John Harbaugh announced that starting quarterback Jaxson Dart will miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury.
With Dart sidelined, the Giants will turn to veteran quarterback Jameis Winston, who will start Sunday against the visiting Tennessee Titans.
The 32-year-old started two games for the Giants last season. Now, Winston takes control of the offense, an opportunity he described as a dream come true.
“This is what I’ve always dreamed of, to be a starting quarterback,” he said on Wednesday. “Obviously, my respects and gratitude is just going to be with Jaxson, but at the same time, this is what I dream of. I dream of being what I am right now and executing at a high level.”
The last time Winston was a full-time starter was in 2019 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that season, Winston started 16 games. During his five seasons in Tampa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft had plenty of highs and lows.
Since 2019, Winston has settled in as a backup quarterback for the Saints and Giants.
Last year, Winston said his brother challenged him to become a starter again. He discussed that conversation on Wednesday.
“It’s a beautiful opportunity,” he said. “But the remembrance factor is remembering the triumphs, remembering the failure, but more importantly, just being present in what’s happening right now. I’m grateful that my brother continues to challenge me. He challenged me after the game last week, but that’s what brothers are for. My brothers in this organization will continue to challenge me, will continue to push me to be better, same thing I’m going to do for them.”
Harbaugh believes Winston’s biggest asset is his ability to throw the football.
“Well, he can throw it,” he said. “I mean, big, strong passing quarterback. He can throw the ball. Everybody that follows football has certainly seen Jameis play, and that’s – his strengths are evident, so that’s what you build around.”
If Winston wants another chance to become a full-time NFL starter, he must play well. He may not have been the Giants’ original plan, but their hopes of remaining competitive in 2026 now depend heavily on his performance.
Leave a Reply