After losing his job as the New York Giants starting quarterback this week, there’s some surprise within the NFL that Russell Wilson is still with the team.

Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, many people around the league “assumed” Wilson would be cut by the Giants.

However, Russini noted Wilson has “earned respect across the locker room for his energy and maturity as a leader” since signing with the Giants as a free agent in March.

Head coach Brian Daboll announced on Wednesday that rookie Jaxson Dart would start at quarterback for the remainder of the season, with Wilson being No. 2 on the depth chart ahead of Jameis Winston.

The move came after Wilson struggled in two of the first three games this season. He went a combined 35-of-69 (50.7 percent) for 328 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in losses to the Washington Commanders and Kansas City Chiefs.

Sandwiched between those games was one of the best passing performances of Wilson’s career against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished 30-of-41 for 450 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in a 40-37 overtime loss.

Even within that Cowboys game, Wilson still had a terrible moment when he threw an arm punt that was picked off by Donovan Wilson late in overtime to set up Dallas’ game-winning field goal.

Despite the concerns about inserting a rookie quarterback for his first appearance against a Los Angeles Chargers defense playing at a high level right now, the Giants are better off seeing what they have in Dart as soon as possible rather than hoping Wilson will improve.

Wilson’s experience can make him a guiding voice for Dart as he navigates the difficulties of playing as the Giants turn the page toward their long-term future after trading up to select the Ole Miss quarterback with the 25th pick in this year’s draft.