Russell Wilson said all of the right things the day after he was benched for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, a player the New York Giants believe is their franchise QB.
Wilson declined to ask for his release. He told reporters this past Wednesday that he would serve as a mentor for Dart, saying, "I know that I'm going to respond in the right way every day."
Wilson also added this: "I'm not done."
Don't be surprised if another team wants to find out.
Wilson is expected to emerge as a trade candidate prior to the deadline on Nov. 4, the target of a QB-needy team in need of a veteran, according to sources around the league.
Wilson joins Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins as the top quarterback options potentially available if a team needs a long-term starter as quarterback injuries do happen.
Wilson is making $10.5 million from the Giants this year, but $8 million of that came in a signing bonus. Thus, a team trading for Wilson would assume just a portion of his $2 million base. That's cheap enough to happen midway through the season, when wallets are tight against the salary cap.
The Giants are likely to consider such a move for the right price, a luxury because Jameis Winston, a veteran with 87 starts, would then serve as their backup behind Dart. Winston currently is QB3 on the Giants' depth chart.
The Bengals are currently the only team to lose their starting QB for an extended period after Joe Burrow underwent toe surgery that is expected to sideline him at least three months. A total of 59 quarterbacks started games in 2024, however.
More QB injuries are likely to occur, and Wilson would be available if that happens.
Wilson has been a solid team leader since signing with New York this offseason, quickly emerging as QB1 and having an impressive spring and summer.
When the regular season began, however, he was among the lowest-performing starters through three weeks, with three interceptions and a passer rating of 78.5 as the Giants began 0-3. Wilson's throwaway incompletion on fourth-and-goal proved to be an indelible image during New York's penultimate drive in a 22-9 prime-time loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday night.
Now, it's Dart's offense beginning on Sunday against the 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers. As head coach Brian Daboll said, the move was "the right thing for our football team."
Soon, the Giants could have another decision to make on Wilson, as well.
