Russell Wilson Might Not Be Able To Hold off Jaxson Dart for Much Longer

Russell Wilson showed he can still cook.

He no longer gets three stars on the Michelin Guide, but he’s not flipping burgers at the tailgate party in the MetLife Stadium parking lot, either.

So how much longer is Wilson going to be in charge of the New York Giants’ kitchen?

After hearing calls for his job after a Week 1 loss at Washington, the 36-year-old Wilson shredded the host Dallas Cowboys secondary last week, throwing for 450 yards — two shy of his career high — and three touchdowns in the New York Giants’ 40-37 overtime loss.

“I know how talented I am. I know what I’m capable of,” Wilson said when asked about critics who had been calling for apprentice Jaxson Dart to take over. “I don’t need someone to convince me of that. I don’t need outside praise or criticism to convince me of what I’m capable of. … This game meant a lot to me. It was time to answer the call. You know what I mean? For me, it was important to do that — not for anyone else. Just for myself.”

The dessert might have been a bit off — an interception in overtime that led to the Cowboys’ winning field goal — but Wilson will continue slicing and dicing for the Giants’ home opener Sunday night against the three-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, who have reached the Super Bowl in five of the past six seasons.

“He’s resilient,” said Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, who devoured nine Wilson passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns but wasn’t on the same page of the menu on the fateful OT interception. “He knows his preparation. He’s comfortable in there. After that first game, he didn’t look back. He stayed with the same mindset, stayed putting everybody up, stayed in high hopes.”

When grilled, veteran backup QB Jameis Winston said it best: “I saw Russ being Russ.”

Had Wilson not produced a piece de resistance, he might’ve already been demoted to sous chef.

After Wilson was 17 of 37 for 168 yards in a 21-6 flop against the Commanders, coach Brian Daboll declined to immediately name Wilson the Game 2 starter, leading to rampant speculation. Instead, the Giants prepared a few zone-read plays for Dart, the No. 25 overall pick this spring out of Ole Miss. Dart played three snaps in Dallas, a pair of handoffs and a 3-yard loss on a rush.

Daboll said Wilson seemed unaffected by the knives lobbed his way.

“I don't really think Russ worries about that, to be honest with you. I think he's done this for so long. You know it's going to come with the territory, being the quarterback in this league,” Daboll said. “It was business as usual for him during the week. He was preparing and studying, doing all the things at practice. The other stuff that comes with it, I don't think he focuses on that.”

Even if Wilson keeps sizzling, Dart might get his chance sooner rather than later.

A loss to the Chiefs would drop the Giants to 0-3, with a game the following week against the unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers.

After that comes a trip to winless New Orleans, which could be an opportunity to sample Dart’s Cajun cuisine. But Wilson shouldn’t be counted out, as he showed against Dallas.

“As much as people talked last week, kind of got to put your foot in your mouth now,” Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton said. “He kind of answered all your guys’ questions.”

And tastefully so.