Five weeks in, and the New York Giants have managed to win just one game. Standing at the bottom of the NFC East at 1-4, the pressure on Brian Daboll and staff is increasing exponentially. They went into the season relying on a veteran Russell Wilson; however, after three consecutive losses, they didn’t have any other option but to turn to rookie Jaxson Dart. Officially, Daboll hasn’t made Dart the starter for the entire season, suggesting Wilson’s going to take over. That’s something Troy Aikman seems to believe is the problem. 

“For Russell, it’s what [his] third team in three years. I mean, he’s bouncing around, and it’s a tough situation,” Aikman said in a recent appearance on The Family Business Podcast with Norv and Stephaine Turner. 

He suggested that the ten-time Pro Bowler is enduring pressure to prove himself again. What makes his situation even tougher is Daboll and the coaching staff sitting on the hot seat. 

“That coaching staff, they got to do it this year. They’re likely not going to be back, and so does that factor into the decision not to maybe start Jackson Dart, and a lot can happen,” the Hall of Famer added. Daboll may prioritize immediate results rather than long-term development, which is adding to the challenge for Wilson. If this season goes well, his focus next season could be on rookie quarterback Dart’s development. 

The FOX Sports analyst also highlighted that it’s not guaranteed that Wilson will keep the job all season. He has already lost it for two games. However, Aikman believes it could be permanent, like the 2016 Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott took over for Tony Romo due to injuries and never looked back, playing his 9th season under center. So, “it’s not a foregone conclusion” that now that doors have been open for Dart, he might never rest. If that happens, Aikman is enjoying what he has seen of the rookie. 

“I like what I’ve seen of Jaxson Dart,” said the former Cowboys quarterback. “I’ve been following his career because I tried recruiting him to UCLA before he decided to go to USC, and have enjoyed watching them. But it’s a strange… because you’re making decisions to try to keep your job, knowing you got to win.”

Aikman believes the decisions in New York are leaning more toward short-term survival ‘cause Daboll is coaching to save his job. If there were a new head coach like Ben Johnson (in Chicago), they could focus more on building a long-term program. That’s something Johnson is doing with the Bears, prioritizing Caleb Williams‘ development and being patient with it despite a 2-2 standing.

That short-term pressure Aikman mentioned seemed to surface again on Sunday, as Daboll’s rookie quarterback faced his first real turbulence since taking over under center. However, surprisingly, Daboll is urging patience. 

Brian Daboll stands by Jaxson Dart with Russell Wilson benched

Jaxson Dart’s debut with the Giants went exactly how the fans hoped for. Securing the first victory of the season at 21-18, he ended a losing streak. However, the team again appeared to lose its rhythm in Week 5, surrendering to the Saints at 26-17. Like a true leader, Dart took the responsibility. The game was particularly hard on the rookie, who recorded two interceptions and turned the ball over five times. 

However, his head coach stood by him. While addressing the media, Daboll revealed that Dart is being “hard on himself.” After the tough loss, he told the rookie, “That’s the NFL,” before appreciating his performance. 

“There’s a lot to learn from it, and that’s what we’ll do. There will be ups and there will be downs,” Daboll said. “I thought he started out really well, and then collectively we’ve got to do a better job. We’ve got to make the play down the field when we have an opportunity to make a play.” 

Though he hasn’t made a decision whether Dart will again start Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, his words showed confidence in the rookie. “He was prepared and ready to go,” he said. The crisis for the Giant at the moment is the turnover problem. Dart has certainly proven himself promising, and now that the Giants, too, have realized what’s stopping them from winning, there might be a change in strategy next week. 

From the looks of it, Wilson doesn’t seem to be starting anytime soon, and if Dart got his turnover problem under control, the veteran’s time in New York might come to an end sooner rather than later.

To know more about why Russell Wilson is struggling, check out our video on it down below.