New York Giants' Russell Wilson sees value in playing preseason games
Not Russell Wilson. The 36-year-old, who signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the New York Giants in March, is as exuberant as ever.
After the Giants pounded the Jets, 31-12, in their annual preseason meeting on Saturday night, Wilson told reporters he isn't one of those vets who avoid playing in the preseason.
"I like playing in the preseason. I like playing any time I get a chance to do that," Wilson said. "Especially early on, you get a rhythm. I think that going against Buffalo, a really good defense, a really good team, obviously, they've been super successful the past several years, you know, last week, and to put a good drive, a 14-play drive together, to be able to move the ball well.
"I think Wan'Dale (Robinson) had a really good game that game and made some great catches. Some guys, Theo (Johnson), had a really good game the first game; the offensive line did a great job."
That success carried over into Saturday night's game against the Jets, and Wilson was equally as happy.
"And then to come back in this game to see guys like Jalin (Hyatt) make some big -- we were backed up the first couple drives really -- and I thought we did a good job obviously getting out of there, the huge explosive play to Beaux (Collins), and then being on the one, two-yard line and Jalin Hyatt running a great route on the right, that was a huge play by him, tremendous route, great protection again," he said.
"I think what it does is it just gives you that confidence in what we're doing. We're doing it on the practice field, as you guys have seen in how well we've practiced, but I think to translate that to the game, put a bunch of points on the board, and to be successful. There's still a lot more room to grow. We can be way better, we'll be better, and just as we continue to play and continue to get after it together, it's going to be fun."
Wilson is currently the Giants' starter, but rookie Jaxson Dart is breathing down his neck. It no longer seems to be a case of if Dart gets to play this season, but when. Wilson appears to be leaning into it.
"I think he's done a tremendous job. He definitely has worked at it every day. You know, he's sitting over here in the room so . . . But he works at it every day, and he asks the right questions," Wilson said of Dart. "That's what I enjoy about him. He knows this, like I'm never shy about giving information and talking about it and us learning about it and me asking and vice versa and we're all just constantly learning."
The Giants are having fun and enjoying meaningless preseason games. Things really are changing in East Rutherford.
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