The New York Giants are handing the offense to Jameis Winston this weekend with rookie Jaxson Dart still in concussion protocol and major changes rippling through the organization.

Interim head coach Mike Kafka confirmed Wednesday that Winston will start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. The move follows the firing of head coach Brian Daboll earlier this week and reflects a reorganization of the team’s quarterback depth chart.

Winston, 31, joined the Giants this offseason to provide veteran stability behind Dart and Russell Wilson. But with Dart unavailable, Kafka elevated Winston to QB1 moving Wilson to the third spot.

“I've got a good feel for those guys, and I think Jameis will do a heck of a job. He's a great leader. He has a lot of production in this league, and I think he's going to do a great job leading that group,” Kafka said.

Winston started seven straight games for the Cleveland Browns last season, including a December 15, 2024, appearance against these same Giants. This will be his first start as a member of Big Blue, prior to being named the starter this week he was the designated emergency quarterback.

Wilson, 36, started the first three games this season and then served as Dart’s backup. His on-field results this year made Kafka’s decision unsurprising. The veteran went winless in three starts this season, his lone bright spot being a 450-yard, three touchdown effort in Dallas – a shootout the Giants lost 40-37 in overtime. His other starts were uneven, marked by stalled drives and protection issues.

Last week, after Dart’s concussion, Wilson entered early in the fourth quarter and completed just 3 of 7 passes for 45 yards while being sacked twice. The offense sputtered under his direction. 

​​"Obviously, I want to play, but Jameis has worked his butt off to give him a great opportunity. He's a guy that's played in this league for a long time and he's one of my closest friends,” Wilson told reporters after the announcement. 

As the Giants face Green Bay, Winston’s return to a starting role offers stability and perhaps a spark – at a critical point in the season.