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Jameis Winston made his first start of the season for the New York Giants against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, replacing an unavailable Jaxson Dart. Dart sustained a concussion during the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears and could not play.
Winston directed the offense throughout the contest but threw a late interception and fumbled in critical moments, leading to a 27-20 home defeat that dropped New York to 2-9 with their fifth consecutive loss. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly reflected on Winston’s performance and the execution he witnessed from the veteran quarterback during his debut with the team.
“Jameis executed the gameplan. He was aggressive when we needed him to be. Obviously, there’s always going to be plays that you want back. For the most part, I didn’t think he exposed the football. There were a couple times there where it got a little hairy. He did a really good job of executing the plan, getting us in and out of the right play, operating within the offense and letting the system work for him. He did everything we asked him to do,” Kelly said.
Tim Kelly talks about how he thought Jameis Winston played on Sunday:
“Jameis executed the gameplan. He was aggressive when we needed him to be. Obviously, there’s always going to be plays that you want back. For the most part, I didn’t think he exposed the football. There were… pic.twitter.com/ObAuAjRCy4
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 20, 2025
Winston completed 19 of 29 passes for 201 yards and added a rushing touchdown while contributing 10 ground yards. The Giants remained competitive throughout, but the final minute proved catastrophic.
An end-zone interception and a sack-fumble on a last-ditch Hail Mary sealed the outcome. Interim coach Mike Kafka turned to Winston after Russell Wilson’s struggles all season, and the decision felt justified early.
Kafka’s confidence in the veteran appeared warranted as Winston operated the offense with steady poise and composure from the opening drive. The way Winston executed the system suggested he remains capable of functioning as a starting-caliber quarterback when called upon.
The larger question centers on Dart’s future with the organization. At 22 years old, he represents the franchise’s long-term vision at the quarterback position. The talent exists for him to develop into a franchise cornerstone, but preserving his health and development matters more than pursuing immediate wins in a lost season.
