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New York Giants interim coach Mike Kafka officially announced that Jameis Winston will start at quarterback during the team's Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers via the Athletic's Dan Duggan.
"Interim HC Mike Kafka announced that TE coach Tim Kelly is now the OC and he confirmed that Jameis Winston will start at QB on Sunday," Duggan wrote on his X account.
Kafka's confirmation came shortly after reports that Winston was elevated to No. 2 quarterback and would start if rookie Jaxson Dart was unable to clear concussion protocol. Dart sustained a concussion during his team's Week 9 road game against the Chicago Bears at the beginning of the fourth quarter on Sunday (November 9) and was replaced by veteran backup Russell Wilson.
The Giants held a 17-10 lead prior to Dart's injury and lost the game, 24-20, with head coach Brian Daboll being fired.
Winston, 31, a former Heisman Trophy winner, BCS national champion and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, threw for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 181 of 296 passing, while going 2-5 as a starter in 2024, his lone season with the Cleveland Browns. The former Florida State standout has thrown for 24,225 yards, 154 touchdowns and 111 interceptions on 1,944 of 3,178 passing during his 10-year NFL career, which included leading the league in both passing yards (5,109) and interceptions (30) in 2019.