Giants announce Jameis Winston as starting QB over Russell Wilson in Week 11 vs. Packers

New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka confirmed Wednesday that Jameis Winston will get the start under center in Sunday’s Week 11 home game against the Green Bay Packers. Winston will start in place of Jaxson Dart, who remains in concussion protocol.

“He’ll do a great job,” Kafka said. “I have a lot of confidence in Jameis.”

Seventy-two hours ago, Winston was third on the quarterback depth chart. Dart then suffered a concussion in New York’s 24-20 Week 10 defeat to the Chicago Bears. When Dart left the game, Russell Wilson, who started the first three games of the season, finished it out for New York.

Monday, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll. Kafka, New York’s offensive coordinator, made the call to go to Winston, saying he did not receive any input from those above him.

Winston, 31, has yet to play a down this season. He spent the 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns, serving as backup to Deshaun Watson. Winston made seven starts for the Browns, going 2-5. He threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 61.1% passing. Winson signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants this past offseason.

Jameis Winston getting another opportunity to start

Winston, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick out of Florida State, was last a full-time starter in 2021 for the New Orleans Saints. He went 5-2 in seven games as starter before tearing his ACL.

From 2015-2019, Winston started under center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston had flashes of high-end play, though turnovers were a constant issue throughout his tenure. In 2019, his final season as starter in Tampa Bay, Winston passed for over 5,000 yards, while also throwing for 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner will now get the chance to play for however long Dart is out. He wanted to remain a Giant through the trade deadline despite the rumors of interest from other teams.

“When a team gives me the opportunity and believes in me, they give me a job, I want to play for that team and do my best for that team,” Winston said earlier this month. “I don’t care what the record is, I don’t care what the circumstances, situation or facts is, I always say what I want for myself, I want for everyone.

“I’m a solutions-oriented guy, so I want to be a part of the solution. I don’t just want to run away when things get bad.”