The New York Giants are preparing to open their 2025 NFL season with a divisional matchup against the Washington Commanders. After a strong preseason, the team is focusing on key players expected to have significant roles in Sunday’s game.
Quarterback Russell Wilson will make his official debut for the Giants after joining from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wilson participated in two preseason games, completing 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards, including an 80-yard pass to Beaux Collins. Head coach Brian Daboll commented on Wilson’s skills: “He has a good feel for arc and pace on the football relative to guys running down the field, where he needs to put it, where to throw it away from defenders, where to put it on the sideline. Again, he’s done it for quite some time. Obviously, that’s part of his game, but there’s a lot of other areas of his game that he does well, too.” Last season with Pittsburgh, Wilson completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,482 yards and had a passer rating of 95.6 over 11 games.
Wilson expressed enthusiasm ahead of his Giants debut: “It’s my 14th season,” Wilson told the media Wednesday. “I’m blessed to be able to do what I love to do. I’ve got so much energy, so much belief, and so much confidence in who we are, what we can do, who we are as a team. This team has got a lot of great talent and a lot of great guys, high character guys, a lot of will, a lot of want to, and a lot of determination to do it the right way.”
Wide receiver Malik Nabers is also set for action after missing preseason games while recovering physically for Week 1. Nabers said about being healthy: “It’s definitely a relief, I can focus more on different routes, watching clips of DBs, understanding how to get open, having that explosiveness…I can finally get to use it this year and not look crazy on film after watching it and knowing I was hurting. So, kind of go out there and play 100 percent, run full speed, I’m even faster than I was last year so it’s going to be exciting to see.” Nabers set franchise records last year with 109 receptions for 1,204 yards as a rookie.
Nabers emphasized the importance of starting strong: “I would say it starts now,” said Nabers. “It’s a division rival, we got to come out and get this win first. It adds to winning our division…we can’t mess around with them, just put them to bed early.”
Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence returns after an elbow injury cut short his previous season. He did not participate in preseason games but has been practicing in preparation for Sunday’s contest. Lawrence shared his recovery process: “During the summer I was dealing with an elbow so I was just watching the defense a lot but I was doing a lot on the side…I feel good now.” He added: “I feel good. It’s been a ramp up and honestly…the ramp up has helped me…”
Lawrence spoke about defensive goals: “Just our dominance on every play,” Lawrence said on what he wants the defense to establish this Sunday. “The way we communicate on the field…the way we do the simple things better…it’s pushing me even more…”
Rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter is expected to make his debut after being selected third overall in this year’s draft. Carter impressed during training camp and preseason by consistently pressuring quarterbacks. Teammate Malik Nabers commented: “I think he’s going to show everybody why we picked him that high…he’s going to make some tackles and run down some people so I’m excited to see him.” At Penn State last year Carter led college football with 24 tackles for loss.
Carter will face Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels—last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year—who recorded over 3,500 passing yards and nearly 900 rushing yards as one of the league’s top dual-threat quarterbacks.
Cornerback Paulson Adebo is another new addition making his Giants debut after signing as a free agent from New Orleans Saints during offseason negotiations. In four seasons with New Orleans Adebo recorded ten interceptions and forty-three passes defensed.
Adebo will likely match up against Washington wide receivers Terry McLaurin—who caught eighty-two passes last year—and Deebo Samuel—a recent acquisition from San Francisco known for versatility across offensive schemes.
Giants cornerback Dru Phillips noted challenges preparing for Samuel in Washington’s system: “You don’t ever really know with a guy coming over to a new team just because it’s a brand new scheme and what not,” Phillips said Monday. “…you won’t know until we go play him.”
