Earlier this month, Russell Wilson treated about 20 teammates to dinner at Bourbon Steak, a swanky restaurant just south of Central Park.

The dining party included the Giants’ quarterbacks, running backs and offensive linemen, who indulged in delicacies such as calamari, clams and oysters.

“I saw some food on my plate that I’ve never seen before,” second-year running back Tyrone Tracy said Thursday with a laugh.

But sumptuous seafood is far from the only novelty Wilson has introduced.

Tracy and wide receiver Darius Slayton described a new energy at the Giants’ organized team activities (OTAs) this spring, with both citing the presence of Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, as a reason for the shift.

And when Wilson suggested the Giants implement more 7-on-7 reps, head coach Brian Daboll did so.

“I think it’s important to listen to the quarterbacks,” Daboll said Thursday at the Giants’ ninth OTA practice, the third one open to the media. “They’re the ones that are touching the ball on every play. Certainly, he has a lot of accolades behind his playing career, and experience. … Russ has been good for us, I’d say, in a number of ways.”

The Giants signed Wilson, 36, this offseason to a one-year contract worth up to $21 million, then reiterated his status as the starter after trading up to draft Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 overall pick.

Wilson has received most of the first-team reps this spring, including on Thursday, when he threw touchdown passes to Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson during 7-on-7s.

“It feels like he’s been here longer than he has, and I’m sure some of that attributes to his experience,” Slayton said. “He has a very clear vision of what he wants. He’s a very clear communicator. As long as your ears work, all you’ve got to do is listen and do what he needs you to do, and the rest takes care of itself.”

The Giants are Wilson’s fourth team in five years.

After spending his first 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks — with whom he won Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in 2014 — Wilson spent two years with the Denver Broncos and another with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with the Giants.

While his production has waned in recent seasons, Wilson brought a winning pedigree to a Giants team that filtered through three quarterbacks — Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito — last year en route to a 3-14 record.

Wilson’s positivity has stood out to Tracy, who says the quarterback emphasizes that making mistakes is “what practice is for.”

“Every time he walks into the media room, he greets everybody,” Tracy said. “It starts with that. That is the main thing I see with Russ. He’s very intentional with what he does. He speaks to everybody. No matter if you’re starting or you’re No. 3, he treats you like you’re the starting person.”

When Slayton re-signed in March on a three-year, $36 million deal, the Giants’ lone quarterback under contract was DeVito. They then signed Jameis Winston and Wilson before drafting Dart, giving them what a smiling Slayton described as an “interesting compilation of individuals.”

Slayton, a downfield threat entering his seventh with the Giants, stands to benefit from the addition of Wilson, whose deep ball remains his go-to. Wilson has already demonstrated a propensity to throw down the field, even on concepts when an underneath receiver is the primary read, Slayton said.

“I don’t really know that he’s missed more than one or two deep balls this whole camp,” Slayton said. “He’s really accurate, really smart, has helped keep us in good plays throughout the camp, so his impact has been felt.”

DART’S DIRECTION

Dart was the second quarterback to take a snap Thursday, replacing Wilson for one rep with the first team during the initial 7-on-7 period.

The 22-year-old Dart then rotated with Winston for snaps with the second team.

Dart delivered a few nice throws Thursday, including a touchdown pass to Daniel Bellinger in the back of the end zone during 7-on-7s and a back-shoulder touchdown to Da’Quan Felton during 11-on-11s. Later in 11-on-11s, Dart rolled to his left and completed a dime to Beaux Collins on an intermediate route.

While Dart wasn’t perfect, it was an improvement on last week’s open practice, where he threw two interceptions.

“He’s had a chance to get his reps here and there,” Slayton said of Dart. “I know he’s learning. OTAs are so much information [coming] in. For a quarterback, it’s super hard, but he’s done a good job of coming along. He definitely can spin it. You can see the arm talent without a doubt.”

NABERS NEWS

Malik Nabers remained out of team drills Thursday as he deals with a toe injury that dates back to college, but the star receiver did participate in walk-throughs.

Nabers spent the first portion of Thursday’s practice inside before taking the field about an hour in.

“He’s progressing,” Daboll said. “He’ll be OK.”

The Giants are also being cautious with Dexter Lawrence after he missed the final five games of last season with an elbow injury. The All-Pro defensive tackle once again participated in individual drills but not in team drills.

OTHER ABSENCES

Kayvon Thibodeaux did not practice Thursday, which gave rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter more opportunities to work off the edge, where he impressed.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas, who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury to his left foot last year, remained out of practice, as did linebacker Bobby Okereke and rookies Darius Alexander and Cam Skattebo.

Starting safeties Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin sat out Thursday, too.

JETS JOINT

This summer’s joint practices with the Jets — one at home, one away — will be Giants’ only practices with another team, Daboll said.

Daboll said his relationship with Jets coach Aaron Glenn helped them iron out the arrangement.

“Those are competitive days, and good for the team,” Daboll said.

HULKING HYATT

Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt appears to have added 15 or 20 pounds this offseason, Slayton said.

A former third-round pick, Hyatt made only eight catches for 62 yards last season, but Wilson has spoken highly of the third-year speedster.

FIGHT-FREE

The previous OTA practice open to the media ended early due to an animated fight that involved Brian Burns, Thibodeaux, James Hudson III and Jermaine Eluemunor.

Thursday’s practice went much smoother, with no fights in sight.

“It was a competitive period,” Daboll said Thursday of last week’s brouhaha. “Try to stay away from that, but [we] moved on quickly from it.”

Friday marks the Giants’ 10th and final OTA practice.

Originally Published: June 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM EDT