Head Coach Brian Daboll

DABOLL: A couple things roster-wise. We'll add (outside linebacker Tomon) Fox back to the practice squad. (Kicker) Younghoe (Koo), signed him to the practice squad. Let him compete with (kicker) Jude (McAtamney). (Kicker) Graham (Gano) won't be ready this week. So those two guys will compete it out. In terms of practice, these are the players that will not practice: (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers), (tight end) Theo (Johnson), (defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr.) Nacho, (running back Tyrone) Tracy (Jr.) and Graham.

Talk about the Chargers here. Coach (Jim) Harbaugh has done a great job the past two years here. He also did a great job at San Francisco, Stanford, Michigan. I think the trademark from his teams is overall toughness. They execute well and they do a really good job. I think the last year he played in the league was my first year in the league, so pretty outdated there. Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator, has done it for a long time. Been in numerous spots and I'd say the trademark for his offense is a tough team, too. They use a lot of personnel groupings, probably more than anybody in the league. They'll have big 300-pounders as fullbacks. They also do a lot of four-receiver sets, which they really haven't done in the past. Early in the game, they like to throw the football quite a bit and they're pretty productive at it. (Justin) Herbert, the quarterback, exceptional young quarterback, athletic, gifted throwing the football, productive, can scramble, can make plays with his feet. Then he has three receivers that are all a little bit different, but he throws it to them about 70% of the time. Keenan Allen, seems like he never ages, has a knack of getting open, a tough cover. A lot of respect for what he's done for a long time. (Wide receiver Quentin Johnston) Q is fast, he's big, he's strong, he can stretch a vertical. (Wide receiver Ladd) McConkey is a really good football player, play in any spot, a go-to guy in certain situations, but he's a tough cover. (Running back) Omarion (Hampton) from North Carolina, a big back, strong, fast, breaks tackles. Prayers out to (running back) Najee (Harris), he's someone I had at Alabama, for that injury. That's a tough injury. I'd say (Joe) Alt is their go-to (offensive) lineman. If they want to run the ball behind somebody, it's certainly going to be him. He's done a really good job. (Defensive coordinator) Jesse Minter with the defense, he was with Coach Harbaugh at Michigan, has done a nice job there. They've got one of the best players on the defensive side of the ball, (safety) Derwin James. He can play down, he can play back, he's long, rangy, athletic, tough. I remember preparing for him back in '17 when I was at Alabama. We were one, I think they were three, or vice versa. Watching this guy in college and then as he's moved on in the pros, he's an exceptional, exceptional player. They've got two really good kickers and a really good specialist who can take it the distance, circle up the field and create yards in that regard. It's a well-balanced team. They're 3-0. They've won three division games, two by one-score games. Playing good football and it's certainly a tough challenge, them coming over here to play.

In terms of the quarterback situation, I met both with (Russell Wilson) Russ yesterday and Jaxson (Dart) privately. Russ was nothing but a pro, which I would expect him to be. It's my decision. We're going with Jaxson. We're going to get him ready to play this week and the remainder of the season. He's going to do everything he can. Russ will be the backup. The conversations that I've had with these young men will be private, the details will be private. All I can tell you is we're going with Jaxson and we're getting ready to play. I'm not going to add too much to it. Those are private conversations, it's my decision and we're going with Jaxson.

Q: What went into the decision?

DABOLL: Again, those are conversations I had with each player. He's our starter. We're going forward with Jaxson and we're going to get him ready to play.

Q: What do you expect from him?

DABOLL: I expect him to prepare, I expect him to go out here and get better each time he plays. It's not always going to be perfect, but I do think that he has the right makeup and athleticism. Look, we're going to do everything we can do to help him be the best player. I know he is as well. It's not just on one person, it's on the entire team and that's what we're going to do.

Q: What is job one for you and the coaching staff to make sure that he has success?
DABOLL: We've been with him for a while. I think it will be a work in progress relative to him playing in his first game. Again, there will be some things that he hasn't seen. We'll try to do the best we can for him relative to our scheme, but it's going to take everybody. It's going to take the offensive line, the defense, the kicking game, and he just needs to go out there and do his job. Just make good decisions, throw the ball where he needs to throw it, make loose plays if he needs to make loose plays, take care of it. He doesn't have to do any more than that. There will be a lot of things to learn from. I've done this once before. It's not perfect, but I know he's doing everything he can do to get ready to play this game and that's all you can ask for.

Q: You've had a very hands-on approach with Jaxson since he's been here. Will you take a larger role in play-calling now that he's going to be the quarterback? In terms of taking over play-calling?

DABOLL: No, I have confidence in (Giants assistant head coach/offensive coordinator) Mike (Kafka). Those guys have met with Jaxson along with me. They've met separately. We're going to do everything we can to help Jaxson be as good as he can play.

Q: Why did you feel this was the right time to make the move?

DABOLL: Those are conversations that I'm not going to get into. It's my decision. I think it's the right thing and that's the direction we're going to go.

Q: What did ownership and (senior vice president and general manager) Joe (Schoen) say when you guys deliberated on this? You keep saying it's your decision.

DABOLL: Yeah, it is.

Q: Do they agree with it?

DABOLL: Yeah, it's my decision. Again, we have conversations, we've said this numerous times. I have plenty of conversations. That's the direction that I wanted to go and that's the direction that we're going to go. There are good conversations we had. Those are private conversations, like I said before. But ultimately it comes down to me and the decision that I made.

Q: So would it be fair to say that even if there were deliberations with different viewpoints, they're trusting your call here?

DABOLL: Absolutely. Yes.

Q: You guys talked all offseason about having this plan. But what part of the plan was starting Jaxson in Week 4? How much of a change is that from the plan you set out with?

DABOLL: I think we've taken steps along the way with him, in a variety of ways. And again, I felt this was the right thing for our football team and that's why it's happening.

Q: It wasn't long ago that the report came out from Adam Schefter of ESPN that there really wasn't a sense of urgency to get Jaxson out there, that you guys preferred to stick with Russ. So what changed? I'm not talking about your conversations with those guys. What changed?

DABOLL: I would say that I haven't had any conversations but with players. You go into every situation, you do what you think is right, and that's what I've done.

Q: What do you see in practice or in the meeting room that lets you know that he's ready for this right now?

DABOLL: I don't think any rookie quarterback is ever just ready to play. You put him in there because you think that he's done enough to show you that he can go out there and compete, and he's done that every step of the way. That's why I made the decision.

Q: Do you expect Russell Wilson to be the backup the rest of the way?

DABOLL: That's what I said, yes.

Q: This Sunday and the rest of the season?

DABOLL: I mean, he's going to be the backup, he's the backup quarterback. Jaxson is the starter.

Q: How much does being 0-3 and the pressure of that factor into the equation for you?

DABOLL: Look, I did it. I'm not going to get into the specifics, like I said before. I think it's the right thing for our football team and that's why I'm doing it.

Q: You don't think you owe it to your fan base to give an explanation of why you're doing this move?

DABOLL: I appreciate our fans. We've got to do a better job all the way around, and that's what we're trying to do.

Q: With the direction this season is going, did you feel this was a move you needed to make to save your job?

DABOLL: It's a long season. We've had three games. Haven't put it together all collectively and made the decision to play Jaxson.

Q: What's been the team's response to this decision?

DABOLL: Told those guys this is where we're going. This is the direction we're going. Jaxson will be our starter. We can all do a better job, and we'll do everything we can to support him.

Q: Do you regret not giving Jaxson more first-team reps in camp, knowing that this was a possibility so early in the season?

DABOLL: I would say our focus is on this week, what we're doing, how he's done. I think he's done a good job throughout the first three weeks of taking a fair amount of reps in terms of the things that we were doing. Taking all the look team reps, and now we'll give him all the reps out here for this game.

Q: You said before that Jaxson was doing all the show team stuff.

DABOLL: He was.

Q: I'm curious, how much has he done to prepare for the first team as far as what he's done with them up to this point?

DABOLL: Well, he does every rep of the call sheet and the practice, every practice, after practice. There's a group that stays out here, and he goes through the entire practice, if you will.

Q: He does it with the first team guys?

DABOLL: No, he does it with the other skill guys that maybe haven't gotten many reps. But he's got to go through the play, visualize it, see it, so that's part of the plan that we've used with him since we started playing in the regular season.

Q: Is that something that other backup quarterbacks have done in the past under you?

DABOLL: Yeah, particularly young guys.

Q: Is it fair to say that fans can expect to see some schematic differences in your offense with Jaxson running the show?

DABOLL: Look, we've all got to do a better job. We're going to do what we think we need to do, and get him ready to play, along with everybody else.

Q: You benched a starter last year and we saw how that ended. If Russ was to come to you and request a release, would you grant it the way you guys did with (Colts quarterback Daniel Jones) DJ?

DABOLL: I'm really not focused on that. Russ has been a professional, he was a professional, and he's going to do everything he can do to help his team out in the role that he's in.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: How are you dealing with the change and how much are you looking forward to this opportunity?

DART: Yeah, definitely looking forward to it. I'm really just excited to get out there on the field, compete, and play with the guys. We put a lot of work in, and excited for the opportunity and very humbled for it.

Q: What was the conversation like with (head coach) Brian (Daboll) when he told you that the job is yours?

DART: I'm going to keep that between us, the details of it, but obviously just for me, I'm thankful for the opportunity. I feel like I've worked hard and prepared, so I'm just excited to get out there on the field and try to execute this offense to the best of my ability. There's just a bunch of real professionals around here, so it's been really appreciated for me and even for (quarterback) Russ (Wilson). He's just somebody that I really look up to, and he's handled it great. The interactions between us since, I think it just says a lot about him as a person.

Q: Who was the first person you shared the information with? Who'd you call?

DART: It was probably my mom, my mom and my dad. My dad was actually out here just hanging out at the house, and my mom was back home, so I just got them on a little FaceTime call.

Q: When did you find out?

DART: I found out yesterday morning.

Q: What did it mean? What was your emotion right after being told?

DART: I'm ready, so it wasn't anything extra. You always try to say, I'm going to prepare the same each week. But in all reality, you have different responsibilities as the starter, so I'm just locked in.

Q: What ways have you evolved or grown within your game and your skills to know that you're prepared, from when you got here until now?

DART: First of all, credit to the coaches. Their development with me and growing my knowledge on the ins and outs of the game, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and being able to understand tendencies and how to exploit those tendencies. I think from a knowledge standpoint, I've grown a ton. Also, credit to the guys in my room who have been a huge help to me and have shared a lot of wisdom. Those are guys who I'm watching daily and trying to learn from them. I've grown a lot in that side of things, and I think the scheme involved in the game plan is really suitable to my abilities. I'm just excited for the opportunity.

Q: What do you hope to bring to a team that's 0-3 and could really use a shot of enthusiasm here?

DART: First of all, we've just got to continue to keep the main thing the main thing, process-wise. Everybody throughout a season is going to face adversity. I think for us, it's going to show what kind of grit we have as a team, character-wise. How do we handle it when we've been punched, when we're down? How are you going to respond to that? I think the biggest thing for me is I want to do my best to be a spark. I want to create excitement on the field. I want to be explosive when opportunities are there. Try to just bring a little bit of swagger.

Q: You didn't spend that much time with the starters. You've rotated in. There wasn't a ton of time in training camp and stuff with the starters. How much extra work do you have to do this week after practice with certain guys to get on the same page as now the dudes who you're going to be throwing to the majority of the game?

DART: There's going to be a lot. There's going to be a lot of extra meetings that we hold just as players and being able to see plays the same way, from the same lens, and just understand kind of just the feel of space. I think, like I said, it's a different responsibility now for me being the starter. Like you said, I haven't gotten a ton of reps with those guys. So, the times we're able to get just routes on air, being able to just have discussions, are very valuable.

Q: On draft night, you had a call with Daboll, and he ended it by saying, 'I'm banking on you.' Now everybody knows he's banking on you, we've all agreed to maybe save his job. Is that something that enters your mind at all, the pressure of doing it for your coach?

DART: I don't really feel pressure. I feel like pressure is given to those who play at a high level, and the best players in the world are the ones that are kind of involved with that word, pressure. I don't feel it in that standpoint. My focus is just trying to win one game at a time. We've been so close each week, and it's been tough to watch. It's been tough as a team to come back in the locker room. Like I said, when you're just that close to winning. So, our focus just has to be on each day, each rep, individually how can we be better? How can we hold each other accountable as players, as leaders of the team, and just find a way to just finish games when we need to.

Q: How different is it for you to know that all eyes in your offensive meeting room and really in the team meeting room are now going to be on you? I know you had the attention. I know you wanted the respect of everybody in the room. But now you are the guy that they will look to, to lift them up…

DART: Yeah, you've just got to make sure that you're prepared every day because of the questions and the situations that are being put on the quarterback. When you're watching film, you have to know exactly what you're talking about. You have to be on your (expletive), point blank period. So, I think for me, I'm just trying to be prepared each and every day. I think that my study habits and having those extra meetings are going to put me in a good position to be confident when I'm in those meetings, when I'm on the field making checks, whatever it may be. That way I can just play fast, and the guys can have a lot of confidence in me.

Q: Because of where you were drafted, the position you play, the state of this team right now, you are going to be looked at as the savior. You're going to be that face. Is that something that you welcome, or do you try to not make much of that at all and just try to be one of the lot?

DART: I just try to be the best teammate that I can be. I don't want to look at it that way. That word or that phrase doesn't really go in my head. I feel like as a unit on the field, especially as an offense, everybody has to be in sync. There can't just be attention on one guy to carry the load of everything. It's got to be collectively as a unit. When we watch games back, there are just a few mistakes that if we just correct as a team, as an offense, games could be completely different. That's our focus. My focus is on the guys and on the players around me. It has nothing to do with myself. That's the approach I'm going to take.

Q: You really haven't taken that many reps with (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers). Now you lose another day today with him not playing. How do you get on the same page with your top rep and top receiver this quickly for your first start?

DART: I think that when you have a guy that's as elite as him, you're definitely able to make up that ground a little bit quicker because a lot of times he's going to make me right based on my throw just because of his skill set and his ability. But I would say the biggest thing is when I was the backup and taking reps behind, I was constantly trying to do my footwork on each progression, each play, and trying to time up with those guys' routes. So, I kind of have that in my mental bank of just the timing and kind of the depth. I've also seen him play a ton. And then I saw him cook my team in college. I just know his ability, and I know that if there are 50-50 balls or him one-on-one or different situations, I have all the confidence in the world to get him the ball.

Q: What's your message to a frustrated fan base about what you're going to bring as the starter for this team?

DART: I'm just going to lay everything I have on the line. That's just the way that I play the game. When I step in between those lines, nothing else in the world matters to me except doing everything that I can to win it. Whatever rep that is in practice, whatever competition it may be, I just feel like I'm a competitor. Whatever I've got to do to prepare for the week, when I'm on the field to get a win, I'm going to give it my all to do that.

Q: What does it mean to you that with Daboll's back against the wall, he's decided the solution is you? He showed the faith in you to draft you, to trade up for you, and now he's calling on you when he needs you the most. How does that make you feel as a player?

DART: Definitely as a player, when you know that your coach has confidence in you, it means a lot because you know that you can trust them and they can trust you. I know that every day that I come out here, every day that I step into the facility, he's going to give his all for me, and I'm going to do it the exact same way. I'm excited to get out there on the field, excited to take another step with this team and do everything that we can to win games.

Quarterback Russell Wilson

Q: This is a new experience for you. How are you going to continue with it?

WILSON: Yeah, I think the best thing I can do is lead from the front. I thank God every day I get to do what I love to do and play this game with guys that I love and enjoy and being around the locker room, the teammates. We've had three tough games, obviously close ones in fashion and three really good teams. We didn't get to get it done. We felt like that Dallas game was a special one in particular. We felt like we could have won, but we didn't. I think at the end of the day, for me right now, I think it's really about the team, really about helping (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) the best I can possibly can. I remember when I was a rookie. I remember coming in as a young rookie and looking for help and looking for answers and stuff like that. I just told him, I've got your back, and whatever I can help you with and help him get prepared the best he can possibly get prepared. I know that matters because I've lived it and I've experienced it. I think for me personally, I'm not done. I've got so much belief in myself and know what I'm capable of. I believe I was able to show it, especially on the road in Dallas and everything else. I know that can help this football team if that comes up. But I think also, too, just for me mentally just have the best practice. Have the best workout session in the morning, early in the morning getting here and having the same routine and just find every single way to get better. That's what you can control. You control your attitude, you control your gratitude. And those two things are important to me because I love the game, I love the process, and I respect it. That's the only thing I know. I think the last thing I'd say about it is just life is about response. I went to the children's hospital on Tuesday. When you go and you see kids fighting for something that is maybe outside of what they can handle at times, it gives you a lot of perspective. For me, it's about life, it's about response. I just know I'm going to respond in every way, in the right way, every day. That's all I know.

Q: You mentioned three good teams, three close games. When you guys were right there in it, are you surprised that, considering they were close and they were good teams, that you lost your job?

WILSON: I felt like I wanted to play better. I wanted to play up to my standard of what I believe that I am, the player that I am. There were a couple moments where we didn't. That's the nature of the game sometimes. I know that I gave everything I have every day so far, and I will continue to do the same. Like I said, I love the process of the game. I love getting ready. I'm going to be prepared in every way and help Jaxson be prepared in every way and help our football team win. That's what matters, the New York Giants finding a way to win. So that's where my mentality is. And so that's my focus right now.

Q: I heard everything you just said about putting the team first but everybody wants to know, is Russell Wilson going to ask for a release or ask for a trade as we've seen guys do?

WILSON: No, I'm focused on helping this team win. I'm focused on helping Jaxson. I'm focused on me getting ready to be the best version of me today on Wednesday. I want to be here. I love this organization. I love the process of it all, I love the guys in the locker room. I'm not giving up on us in this season. I just don't know any other thought, any other thing, than finding a way through. Sometimes you've got to climb under the wall. Sometimes you've got to fight through it. Sometimes there are battles and things that you face in life or in sport. I'm going to help lead the way in every way I can to make sure that we figure that out. The best thing we can do, though, is stay in great belief, in faith of who we are. I think that a few plays here and there, you know, the season's a little bit different. I'm not discouraged about our football team. I'm not discouraged about myself, that's for sure.

Q: When did you find out? And what was your immediate reaction?

WILSON: I did the players meeting on Tuesday with all the guys. I bring all the receivers and tight ends and running backs and everybody, quarterbacks. We did that meeting, I was watching film. Then coach told me to come up. I talked to him on Tuesday. We had a good conversation, and I obviously want to play. But at the end of the day, it's coach's decision and thought. I think that for me, just staying ready, knowing what I'm capable of. Like I said, life is about response. And I can control two things, and that's my attitude and my gratitude. I think the other thing I can control is my work ethic and my preparation to be ready when my name's called again because I know what I can do, and I know, you know, I know I'm going to do it again. So that's what I'm excited about.

Q: You said you lived that rookie quarterback experience. What is your advice for Jaxson this week and moving forward?

WILSON: I think preparation is everything. I've always said separation is preparation, just getting prepared and helping with that in every way, whatever he needs, and the thought process of that, and the study habits, and just the little details on the cutups of the film, whatever I can help with. I think go out and enjoy the moment. I remember my rookie year. I remember playing in Arizona, my first game. It was a tough game. I remember the next game played against the Dallas Cowboys at home. We won, and that was a good game. I just remember that there's highs and lows in it, but just staying poised and believing in yourself.

Q: You know Jaxson as well as anyone in this organization. What have you seen from him from when he first got here to now?

WILSON: I think he's going to be a great player. I think he's competitive. I think he's smart. He works hard at it. He does a really good job of just taking things in in terms of experiences and thoughts. He asks good questions and all that, and we give him all the answers we've got and everything else. I just think that he's engaged in the moment, and whatever it takes to help him and help us win. I think that really the important part is us focused on trying to get a win against the L.A. Chargers.

Q: After Sunday night's results, did you think this was a possibility that change could happen or did this kind of take you by surprise?

WILSON: I mean, I'm not surprised by anything anymore to be honest with you. But also, at the same time they made two good plays, and the game was kind of back and forth and tight and just didn't go our way, you know. I'm just focused on now. I think that's the one thing I've learned in the highest moments and the best times and coming off a game like Dallas, you live in that moment, and you enjoy it and you have to come back in the next one. Life is sometimes a 16-round fight. Football is a 16-round fight sometimes, sometimes a 17-round fight, whatever it may be. Sometimes in life, like I said, life is about response. Sometimes you feel like in the moment, you feel like you're at the end of something or something's heavy. And I think for me I just believe I'm still in round five, round six. That's my mentality. I think that's part of just continuing to fight and continuing to stand up, continuing to believe in you, continuing to believe in those around you, continuing to speak life. And I think winners, they don't pick and choose. I know I'm a winner. I know my mentality of what that looks like. I know having the championship mentality. Winners don't pick and choose. Leaders don't pick and choose when they want to lead and when they want to help and communicate like a winner or whatever that may be. Those are the things that I know, and I can control. So that's what I'm focused on.

Q: I know you said you want to be here but at the same time, you said you're not done. You know you can still play. There are opportunities out there outside of here where those opportunities could be there for you to play, to help the team, to be on the field, not necessarily as a backup. Why not explore those? Why not want to explore those? I know you've got a lot left in round five. But at 36, the opportunities for a quarterback that gets older like that, they aren't usually around as often.

WILSON: First of all, I love this team. Like I said we're sitting here, yeah, we're 0-3. Yeah, we feel like we could be 2-1, 3-0, potentially, to be honest with you. We play here, play there. I mean, you go back to the Commanders game, the balls on the 1, that changes the game. The Dallas game, we took the lead with 23 seconds and unfortunately it didn't go our way. Then this past game, the score was 6-6. They make a play in the red zone. It's just like the one, two, three, plays here and there change the game. I believe in who we are and the guys that we have. My job is to help lead right where my feet are, right in the moment. I think you can't change that mentality. Like I said a second ago part of being a winner, part of being a champion, part of having that champion mentality is to not waver. Part of it for me is just being in the moment. I don't control all that extra stuff. I just focus on me being prepared and helping our teammates get ready to go. That's what I know.

Q: You mentioned your own experience as a rookie. Was there something you wanted to hear from a veteran at that time that you think you can share with Jaxson?

WILSON: That I want to share? I think I've shared a lot with Jaxson. I'll continue to share. There's something that, like I told you guys early on I think it was in OTAs or something. If you believe in yourself and you believe in who you are and you believe in the process of the game and respect of the game, you don't hold anything back. I don't hold my thoughts or my ideas or this experience back from Jaxson because we're in the same QB room. I think it's even more of a reason why we share. Going back to your question, I think for me personally it's about helping our team win and whatever I can do to do that. I think I'll continue to do that.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers

Q: First off, how are you feeling?

NABERS: Good, start of a new week.

Q: You didn't practice today. What is it that's bothering you?

NABERS: The injury report will be out later. I'm sure everybody will know.

Q: What's your relationship like with (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) and how do you feel about him being your starting quarterback moving forward?

NABERS: Building the relationship. I've got time spent with him through the season now, offseason, so I'm going to support him, support everyone that's in the offense. We've got a job to do and we're going to continue to play football.

Q: Do you think it's the best move for this team?

NABERS: The decision is not up to me, it's up to (head coach Brian Daboll) Dabs. They thought that was the best decision for the team and I'm just following on.

Q: You've been one of the biggest proponents of (quarterback Rusell Wilson) Russ, I think, since he got here. How it was going to help you, how it was going to help the offense. To kind of have that experiment be thrown out the side and Dart thrown in there, especially after a 450-yard game 10-11 days ago, how do you process that?

NABERS: Process is, I've got a job to do. My job is to run routes, catch the ball no matter who's throwing me the football. Like I said, the decision wasn't up to me. Like I said, I've still got a job to do, go play football.

Q: Is it a challenge as a receiver to go out and play a game with a quarterback, even if he's talented, that you just haven't played a lot with? What is that challenge like? Have you done that before?

NABERS: I'm sure everyone's seen last year. I had three, four different quarterbacks. It was the same thing. I mean, it's hard, but we're going to support him. We're going to do our best to help make sure he's prepared, help show he's ready and we're going to help him lead. We're going to do what everybody else was doing when I was a rookie, the same way helping me. So, we're going to uplift his spirits and help him also during the game. If something goes bad, we'll just uplift him and continue to roll.

Q: What did you learn from those quarterback changes last year about the best way to approach this situation?

NABERS: They're going to find a way to get one the ball.

Q: You faced Jaxson in college, obviously. Jaxson talked about that now. What do you remember about that game and does it kind of excite you now to be on the same offensive side with him?

NABERS: I remember those games going back and forth. He did a great job of leading his team to victory one of those games. Went to overtime. I don't think that went to overtime. I think it was a Hail Mary, the last of them. So, he does a great job of when the game is close, he continues to fight. He's going to continue to fight until the clock is at zero and his team is victorious. That's a great person to have at quarterback right now. I'm not saying that Russ wasn't doing the same thing. I'm just saying, from his college experience. But like I said, he's amazing at what he does and I'm excited to see him play.

Q: Is there some excitement about how different the offense could look? Obviously, we know it was throwing deep balls with Russ. That was one of his strengths. But Jaxson has a little more athleticism, he's younger, maybe more over the middle stuff. Is there some excitement about maybe the offense looking a little different?

NABERS: I'm not really sure. I guess we'll wait to see Sunday. But you take a look at his film, he's pushed the ball down the field the same way. I was watching film with Dabs during the offseason. He throws a pretty good deep ball. Like you said, he's athletic, so that's a help to the offense also. But I'm excited to see him go out and play.

Q: What did you think of your route tree and usage in the last game?

NABERS: I got a couple of routes to get the ball. Things always happen, whether it's the line, whether it's the defensive scheme. Like I said, they did a great job of keeping me in front of them. The safeties did a great job. Corners did a great job of forcing to their leverage. They just did a great job of overall the defensive scheme to limit me. I had a couple of great routes. It's a lot of plays that I wish I could get back just to help my quarterback. But like I said, had a pretty good route tree, just didn't live up to the plan.

Q: Presumably teams are going to try to do that again. They're going to watch that game and say, this is how we limit him. How do you think you guys should attack that differently, because you can't just let teams keep the ball out of your hands.

NABERS: You look at the film. You see what plays we can run, see what schemes we can run to try to get me the ball, whether that be early, whether it just be schematic. But I think my coach is going to do a very good job of just studying the tape, trying to find different ways to try to get me the ball right in those different defensive schemes. But practice is best right now, just to try to get those looks at practice and hopefully take it to the game.

Q: What have you learned about Jaxson just over these last three weeks with him at QB2?

NABERS: I think he's done a great job of just being ready. I see him during practice, he's behind taking those reps, taking those pre-reps, voicing over the plays to the other receivers. Scout team, he's always been accurate whether that's using his legs, pushing the ball down the field, being smart with the football. That's basically what I've seen from him.

Q: What's he been like on the sidelines?

NABERS: Just supportive. I've never seen him not supportive. He's always still continuing to talk, just talking to me on the side. Whether it was the last game, he was like, 'Did you see that look? Did you sit down?' He was like, 'Yeah, I think that was the best option on that.' Just continuing to stay in the game. Stay hearing what I have, hearing the thoughts of his receivers of what kind of routes and how we see that. I think he's done a great job of picking our brains, making sure he's ready for when his name is called.

Q: You mentioned earlier in the season saying what needs to be said this year and finding your voice in the locker room in your second year. Does the conversation change going from a veteran like Russell Wilson as your quarterback to now having a rookie? Do you feel that you need to communicate or say more to him because it is his first year in the league?

NABERS: No. Like I said, football is football. It's a different game right now, obviously. But I think as he continues and continues to go on, I feel like as a young player, you don't want to keep hearing everybody come up to you telling you this is what you should do, this is what you should do. Especially at the quarterback position, I think he's going to mature. He's real mature to understand and I think he's going to take those key elements. Whether he makes a mistake, he's going to learn from them. I can see that sometimes I might come up to him and tell him, and he'd be like, 'Yeah, I know. I should have did that.' So, he already knows, he's already making his adjustments on things that he's learning. I think that's good when you can take something that you did and learn from it quickly, as he can. I think it's going to be most helpful for him right now.

Q: Are you confident you'll be out there on Sunday?

NABERS: I'll see, decisions will be made closer to the game.

Q: You've learned a lot from Russ, obviously. You've talked about how he's rubbed off on you a little bit. What is the biggest lesson you've learned from him that you want to take forward after the switch?

NABERS: I would say trusting in the process. Making sure you're ready when your number is called. And trusting God. The plan is already written. What's going on, you can't stop what's going on. So, that's all.

Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence

Q: Any surprise (on the quarterback switch) three games in?

LAWRENCE: I mean, eventually it was probably going to happen like this. That's just how it goes. It happened now, so I'm ready to support him and be by his side and encourage him and keep him going.

Q: Do you think it's the right move for the team at this point?

LAWRENCE: That's not my call, honestly. He's my quarterback now. So, I'm going to be by his side and roll with him to the end.

Q: When did you find out and how did you find out?

LAWRENCE: The same way everybody else found out.

Q: You want to win. It's getting to the point where you've been part of rebuilds, you've been part of, it's next year, it's next year, it's next year.

LAWRENCE: Who says that?

Q: Meaning in terms of, it feels like in the past, not this year.

LAWRENCE: To who?

Q: Big picture, the feeling around this organization has been the next year.

LAWRENCE: That's to you. That's to you, that's to you.

Q: In your opinion, it's this year…?

LAWRENCE: I have confidence in him and I'm going to support him. I'm going to be there and we're going to ride and that's how we're going to do it.

Q: Whether it's injury or what not, it's been six, seven quarterbacks for the Giants in the last year, two, three, maybe, if you go back to (Jets quarterback) Tyrod (Taylor). Is there hope for you that this is it, this is the guy I'm going to play with for the rest of my Giants career?

LAWRENCE: I definitely hope so. (Quarterback) Jaxson (Dart), he was my favorite coming out the draft. I like his game, confident dude. I called him when I saw it, like everybody else saw it, and I said, I'm here for you, take advantage of every moment and don't shy away from the lights. Just go be yourself.

Q: What made him one of your favorites coming out of the draft?

LAWRENCE: I don't know, he just seemed like a likable dude. I watched a little bit of him. I guess it's one of the tweets he made one time that I saw that kind of made me say, okay, this dude, he's got a little something to him. He's not just the average guy type of thing. But I like his game and I'm excited for him.

Q: Do you think he can keep that swagger?

LAWRENCE: I don't think nobody can take his swagger, honestly.

Q: Was there a moment with something that Jaxson did, whether it was in practice or a preseason game, where you looked at him and said, yeah, he's a rookie, but I believe that we can compete with him now?

LAWRENCE: I think every day. His approach to practice, his approach to scout team, his approach to the preseason games he was in. I think it's just his approach, being a pro every day and showing up and challenging us on defense these last few weeks. I think that's just the preparation. I don't think it just starts the day you become a starter, it's days leading up.

Q: You've been through a quarterback change or two. How would you describe the spark that can happen if that's done at the right time and it works well?

LAWRENCE: I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. Like you said, I've been through some quarterback changes and I don't know. I'm supporting him and I like him a lot. I know the guys around here like him a lot and his game, so that's where we're going to go.

Q: There are a number of quarterbacks around the league who, when they get benched, want out. Release me, trade me, I want to go somewhere else where I can start. (Quarterback Russell Wilson) Russ is not going to do that because he believes in this team. Does that mean something to you guys, knowing who that's coming from?

LAWRENCE: Yeah, he came in here and brought a different type of leadership in here and a different type of charisma and a different type of championship mindset. That's a lot of respect for him and like I said, Russ is my guy too. I've just got to support the next guy up. Just like if anything happened to me, you've got to support the next guy up. It's just the way the game goes, man, and I'm excited for our next steps and this game on Sunday.