Jameis Winston to start at QB for the Giants in interim coach Mike Kafka's first big decision

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With Jaxson Dart successful concussion protocol, Jameis Winston is taking implicit arsenic the New York Giants’ starting backmost for their crippled Sunday against Green Bay.

It is interim manager Mike Kafka’s archetypal large decision since taking implicit pursuing the firing of Brian Daboll and auditioning for the full-time occupation by showing what helium tin bash successful the last games of this mislaid season. Kafka announced the determination anterior to signifier Wednesday, his archetypal successful charge, saying it was his call.

“Jameis has done a large occupation since he’s been here,” Kafka said. "I got bully consciousness for those guys, and I deliberation Jameis volition bash a heck of a job. He’s a large leader, helium has a batch of accumulation successful this league and I deliberation he’s going to bash a large occupation starring that group.”

Kafka opted for Winston implicit erstwhile starter Russell Wilson, who had served arsenic Dart’s backup since getting benched for the rookie aft an 0-3 start.

“Russ understands the absorption we’re going moving forward,” Kafka said. “Russ is simply a existent pro, and I cognize he’s been done a mates pugnacious things. Listen, the mode helium responds is unbelievable, and I person a ton of respect for Russ. He’s going to beryllium the backup this week. He’s 1 play distant conscionable similar helium was past week, and truthful we request him and he’s a important portion of our offense."

Wilson, who turns 37 aboriginal this period and is not signed beyond this season, was 3 of 7 for 45 yards successful alleviation of Dart past play astatine Chicago erstwhile the Giants blew different precocious lead, losing 24-20 and falling to 2-8.

That decision led ownership to occurrence Daboll and beforehand Kafka, the 38-year-old violative coordinator who had interviewed for respective NFL head-coaching vacancies but had not tally a squad astatine immoderate level until now. Kafka could beryllium one of the candidates considered pursuing the season, on with different QB gurus with an oculus connected processing Dart astatine football's astir important position.

Kafka, 38, said his absorption is solely connected players and coming up with a crippled plan, alternatively than reasoning astir his aboriginal and showing disconnected for ownership and wide manager Joe Schoen. Kafka promoted choky ends manager Tim Kelly to beryllium violative coordinator but volition inactive telephone plays.

“Really astute coach. He’ll assistance america necktie successful the tally crippled and the walk game,” Kafka said. "He does a large occupation with a batch of experiences to slope on."

Keeping Dart steadfast and putting him successful the champion positions imaginable is the apical purpose down the stretch. Getting concussed against the Bears looks similar it is taking him retired of the premix to look the Packers astatine home.

“Jaxson’s inactive successful the protocol," Kafka said. "He’s successful the mediate of it. To beryllium honorable with you, I person a batch of spot successful our aesculapian staff, successful our aesculapian squad and they’re taking large attraction of him. Each time I get a small spot of an update. He’s close connected way and close connected gait successful the program.”

With Dart unavailable, the Giants are going with Winston, who signed a two-year contract past offseason and is expected to instrumentality successful 2026 arsenic Dart's backup. A Heisman Trophy victor successful 2013 who was the No. 1 prime successful the draught a decennary ago, Winston started 7 games past play for Cleveland and has been 3rd connected the Giants’ extent illustration since aboriginal successful grooming camp.

“He’s precise excited for the opportunity,” Kafka said, “and I deliberation he’ll tally with it.”

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