The New York Giants took the field for day one of practices at training camp on July 23, and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart got off to a rough start. Fortunately, after a quick word with veteran starter Russell Wilson, Dart rebounded.
After Dart’s first pass of 11-on-11 drills was intercepted for a would-be defensive touchdown, the rookie received simple but important advice from the Super Bowl champion QB working alongside him: “Next play.”
From the look of it, Dart took those two words to heart, because he followed up the early turnover with a touchdown pass to tight end Theo Johnson (per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan).
Wilson has been a starting quarterback in this league since 2012, so he knows a thing or two about shaking off interceptions. That thick-skinned mentality is the only way to last as an NFL QB, especially when you’re playing for a city like New York.
“He’s got a good head on his shoulders,” Wilson said of Dart after practice. Continuing: “There’s going to be plays that people make. The thing about quarterback is you got to move onto the next play, good or bad, and I think that’s what we have to be able to do.”
Wilson went on to add that he “really likes” Dart, and has tried his best to answer any and all questions that the rookie has for him throughout their time together.
“I just believe in — much is given, much is required,” Wilson noted. “So, you just keep sharing it [all], you keep learning it, and as you’re sharing you’re learning, too, right? You’re constantly growing.”
It would seem that Wilson has been a positive influence on the Giants’ new first-round talent, at least so far.
Giants WR Malik Nabers Praises Russell Wilson for Being ‘Great Leader’
One of the interesting tidbits from day one of Giants training camp was that Wilson and star wide receiver Malik Nabers have lockers right next to one another. That’s not a coincidence, and the veteran signal-caller has rubbed off on the second-year star already.
“He’s a great leader,” Nabers said, when asked about his first impressions of Wilson.
“He’s [one] of those quarterbacks that gets everybody going,” Nabers explained. “So, we needed that in the huddle today. We kind of started out slow but with Russ [Wilson’s] leadership, we picked things up at the end.”
SNY insider Connor Hughes clarified that after the “slow start,” Wilson and Nabers linked up for three touchdown receptions throughout practice. And based on a post from The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, it seems like this connection was really humming on Wednesday.
“Malik Nabers was targeted on seven of Russell Wilson’s 15 passes in team periods,” Duggan relayed. Adding: “Marvin Harrison’s record of 205 targets in the 2002 season is going to be in jeopardy.”
Russell Wilson Outplays Jaxson Dart at Day 1 of Giants Training Camp
Similar to what we saw throughout OTAs and minicamp, Wilson was a class above Dart on day one of Giants training camp.
Raanan reported each quarterback’s final stat line from the July 23 practice.
Jaxson Dart went 3-of-7 with a TD and an INT in live drills. Snuck in one first-team rep. Primarily worked with the second-team offense ahead of Jameis Winston.
Russell Wilson went 10-of-17 passing with 4 TDs as Giants worked a lot of red zone in their first camp practice. https://t.co/OiTDhYbsXD
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) July 23, 2025
“Jaxson Dart went 3-of-7 with a TD and an INT in live drills,” Raanan informed. “Snuck in one first-team rep. Primarily worked with the second-team offense ahead of Jameis Winston. Russell Wilson went 10-of-17 passing with 4 TDs as Giants worked a lot of red zone in their first camp practice.”
Head coach Brian Daboll officially announced that Wilson will be the Week 1 starter on July 23, closing the door on the idea of a camp competition at quarterback. Needless to say, the early results back up that decision.
