Daboll Keeps Giants’ No. 2 Quarterback Decision Under Wraps Ahead of Season Opener
Coach declined to disclose whether Jaxson Dart or Jameis Winston will be the backup for Sunday’s game against Washington and would not reveal practice rep plans
New York Giants coach Brian Daboll refused to disclose who will be listed as the team’s No. 2 quarterback for Sunday’s season opener against the Washington Commanders, saying the club’s plans will be revealed when the lineup is announced on game day.
Daboll declined to say whether Jameis Winston or rookie Jaxson Dart would serve as the primary backup, and he would not outline how practice reps will be split among the quarterbacks during this week’s closed-to-media walk-through. “We have a good idea of how we’re going to play,” Daboll said. “That will all come out on Sunday.”
The coach’s reticence follows a pattern Daboll has used in previous seasons: assigning the designated No. 2 quarterback to run the scout-team offense during the regular season while the No. 3 quarterback typically receives limited or no practice repetitions. How the Giants ultimately list and use their backup quarterbacks carries roster and preparation implications for a team that also is managing position battles along the offensive line and in the secondary.
On the offensive line, right guard appeared settled when Greg Van Roten held off challenge from Evan Neal in recent practices, though Daboll declined to name starters for the opener. At cornerback, availability has been a factor; Cor’Dale Flott and Deonte Banks have not often been healthy at the same time since the early portion of training camp, complicating a decision at that position.
The quarterback spot carries particular interest because Winston is the established veteran in the room while Dart is a developmental option who has taken part in preseason work. Daboll’s decision on depth-chart order will determine which quarterback is tasked with preparing the scout team each week and which receives regular-season practice repetitions, a routine the coaching staff uses to simulate upcoming opponents.
The Giants opened the regular season on Sunday against Washington. The team held a walk-through for players and staff on Monday that was closed to reporters, and Daboll repeatedly stopped short of offering specifics about personnel and practice structure as the club moved through its final preparation days.
Daboll’s strategy of keeping the backup quarterback decision private preserves flexibility for in-game and weekly planning, and it shields practice details from opponents. The team will make its official game-day listings public on Sunday, when the roster and active/inactive designations are submitted prior to kickoff.
Giants officials and coaches have stressed that preseason evaluations and camp competitions inform regular-season roles, but final decisions are often shaped by short-term health status and matchup considerations. With the opener imminent, the organization’s confidentiality about the quarterback pecking order underscores the level of detail coaches weigh when setting their weekly game plans.
The Giants will announce their game-day roster and depth chart before the deadline on Sunday, at which point the team’s choice for the No. 2 quarterback will be known to the public and the opponent. Until then, the role and the distribution of reps in practice remain internal decisions for Daboll and his staff.