Tag: Jaxson Dart

Giants QB Jaxson Dart to start vs. Patriots

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart will return from a two-game absence to start the New York Giants’ road game against the New England Patriots on Monday, interim head coach Mike Kafka said Friday.

Dart sustained a concussion during New York’s 24-20 setback to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 9. He exited as the Giants went ahead 20-10, only for the team to fall apart in the closing minutes. After the loss, head coach Brian Daboll was fired.

Dart, 22, sat out the next two games for the Giants (2-10), who carry a six-game losing streak into their game against the Patriots (10-2) in Foxborough, Mass.

Since he was promoted to the starting spot in Week 4, Dart had 10 touchdowns and three interceptions along with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns. He went three games without an interception, including the loss to the Bears, when he accounted for both of New York’s touchdowns on scoring runs of 3 and 24 yards.

Jameis Winston has completed 37 of 65 passes for 567 with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the last two games. He also had a touchdown reception in New York’s 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Giants QB Jaxson Dart (concussion) cleared to return vs. Patriots

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Jaxson Dart is out of concussion protocol and expected to be back under center for the New York Giants.

The Giants said Thursday their rookie quarterback has cleared the protocol and is on track to start Monday night when they visit the New England Patriots.

Dart missed the past two games after sustaining the injury at Chicago in Week 10.

New York lost to the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions with Jameis Winston at quarterback. Winston completed 37 of 65 passes for 567 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and he tallied a rushing and a receiving score.

The Giants (2-10) have lost six straight and are already eliminated from playoff contention. The question becomes whether the Giants’ coaching staff will rein in Dart’s running.

The 2025 first-round pick has been evaluated for a concussion four times this year (including preseason) and, under former coach Brian Daboll, he led the league in designed QB runs.

Interim coach Mike Kafka was calling plays even when Daboll was in charge, but reporting since Daboll’s firing suggests the team will employ a more cautious approach when Dart returns. That could mean fewer keepers at the goal line and less exposure in blowout situations.

Prior to the injury, Dart completed 62.7% passes for 1,417 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games (seven starts). He added 317 rushing yards on 57 carries with seven more scores.

Injuries remain a factor beyond quarterback. The Giants didn’t practice Thursday but released estimated statuses, with Dart projected as a full participant.

All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (elbow) was listed as a projected DNP after aggravating his surgically repaired arm. Linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (neck/knee) were also projected as nonparticipants.

–Field Level Media

Giants rule out Jaxson Dart, QB Jameis Winston to start

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Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the second consecutive game with a concussion. Interim head coach Mike Kafka cited a lack of progress from Dart under the NFL’s mandated protocol this week.

Jameis Winston took the majority of the snaps with the starting offense during the team’s three practices in preparation for Sunday, when the Giants (2-9) are at Ford Field to tackle the Detroit Lions (6-4).

Winston completed 19 of 29 passes for 201 yards and ran for a touchdown last week but the Giants lost 27-20 to the Green Bay Packers. He turned it over on each of New York’s last two possessions.

The Lions have 31 sacks and 12 takeaways in 10 games this season. The Giants have allowed 33 sacks.

There was optimism for Dart’s return because he was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday. But he was not cleared for contact.

He last played Week 10 at Chicago when he was removed to be checked for a head injury in a game for the fourth time since the preseason. Dart exited as the Giants went ahead 20-10 on the Bears, only to blow that game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter resulting in head coach Brian Daboll being fired.

Russell Wilson, who entered the game against the Bears as the No. 2 quarterback, was later demoted by Kafka in favor of Winston.

Dart had 10 touchdowns and three interceptions along with a team-high seven rushing touchdowns since he was promoted to the starting spot in Week 4. He went three games without an interception including the loss to the Bears, when he accounted for both of New York’s touchdowns on scoring runs of 3 and 24 yards.

–Field Level Media

Giants QB Jaxson Dart (concussion) not cleared for contact

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For the second straight day Thursday, the New York Giants listed quarterback Jaxson Dart as a limited, non-contact participant at practice.

Dart has not been cleared for contact as he progresses through concussion protocol. It remains up in the air whether he will be ready to face the host Detroit Lions on Sunday or be held out for a second straight game.

“If he’s healthy and cleared to go, then I’d like Jaxson Dart to play,” interim head coach Mike Kafka said Wednesday. “It’s only if he’s healthy and ready to go, and that’s based on what the doctors have to say.”

Dart, 22, was injured in the Week 10 loss at the Chicago Bears. The first-round draft pick has completed 62.7% of his passes for 1,417 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in nine games (seven starts). Dart has also rushed for 317 yards and seven touchdowns.

Jameis Winston started in Week 11 against the Green Bay Packers, passing for 201 yards with an interception as well as a lost fumble on the final play of a 27-20 loss.

–Field Level Media

Giants QB Jaxson Dart out vs. Packers; Jameis Winston to start

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New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the visiting Green Bay Packers, the team announced Friday.

Dart sustained a concussion during New York’s 24-20 setback to the Chicago Bears.

Although Russell Wilson replaced Dart in that game, veteran Jameis Winston was announced on Wednesday to be Giants’ starter versus Green Bay (5-3-1) if the rookie was unable to play.

Also on Friday, the Giants (2-8) ruled out wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) and linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder). Neither player participated in practice throughout the week.

New York listed safety Tyler Nubin (neck) and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (toe) as doubtful after both players failed to participate in practice this week. Linebacker Bobby Okereke (shoulder) was limited in practice Friday and is questionable to face the Packers.

Winston, 31, inked a two-year, $8 million deal with New York in the offseason. He has yet to see action this season.

Drafted No. 1 overall in 2015 by Tampa Bay, Winston made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and topped the NFL with 5,109 passing yards for the Buccaneers in 2019.

Winston is 36-51 as a starter, completing 61.2% of his passes for 24,225 yards, 154 touchdowns and 111 interceptions in 105 games (87 starts) with the Bucs (2015-19), New Orleans Saints (2020-23) and Cleveland Browns (2024).

His last appearance came in Cleveland’s 21-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15 of last season.

Wilson, who turns 37 on Nov. 29, replaced Dart in the second half against the Bears and completed 3 of 7 passes for 45 yards while being sacked twice.

Slayton, 28, has 23 catches for 343 yards in eight games this season.

–Field Level Media

Giants QB Jaxson Dart checked for concussion, ruled out vs. Bears

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Giants quarterback Russell Wilson entered the game and Jaxson Dart walked to the locker room in the fourth quarter to be checked for a concussion.

Wilson completed both of his pass attempts for 45 yards and led a run-heavy scoring drive capped by Younghoe Koo’s 19-yard field goal with 10:19 left to give the Giants a 20-10. New York stopped the Bears on a fourth-and-3 in their own territory to get the ball right back.

After the scoring drive, Dart officially was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Dart’s head hit the ground hard after a fumble. He moved slowly to the sideline and walked behind the team bench area before heading into the locker room with team medical personnel.

Dart had two rushing touchdowns before leaving the game. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 242 yards.

Wilson’s second drive in the fourth quarter ended with a punt.

–Field Level Media

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell (30) during a Thursday Night Football game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Oct. 9, 2025.

Giants, Brian Daboll fined for interrupting Jaxson Dart concussion exam

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The New York Giants were fined $200,000 for violating the concussion protocol after rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart exited their Oct. 9 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL and NFLPA announced Friday.

The league’s joint investigation with the players’ association found coach Brian Daboll and running back Cam Skattebo breached the protocol during New York’s Week 6 home win. Daboll and Skattebo entered the sideline medical tent to speak to Dart while doctors evaluated him, “creating the perception they were interfering” with the exam.

“While the parties agreed that Coach Daboll’s and Mr. Skattebo’s actions had no actual impact on the exam or the care that Mr. Dart received, their conduct was inconsistent with and demonstrated a disregard for the concussion protocol’s requirements,” the joint statement read.

On top of the team’s penalty, Daboll was fined $100,000 and Skattebo was fined $15,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.

Dart left the Oct. 9 game — a 34-17 New York victory — toward the end of the third quarter after absorbing a sack and clutching his head. Backup Russell Wilson came in for two plays, and his lone incomplete pass attempt left the Giants facing fourth-and-9 at the Eagles’ 42-yard line.

The TV broadcast showed Daboll peering into the tent and yelling at the Giants’ team physician, Dr. Scott Rodeo, on the sideline.

Following the game, Daboll said he’d apologized to Rodeo and explained he was seeking clarity on Dart’s status before deciding whether to call timeout and go for it on fourth down.

The Giants opted to punt, and Dart was cleared to return for the next offensive series.

“I went (into the tent) — didn’t actually go in, just stuck my head in, to see how our quarterback was doing. Just asked him, ‘How you doing?’” Daboll told reporters. “In no way would I want a player to come back out there that wasn’t ready to play. I think I have great respect for that process.”

The league and NFLPA’s review concluded Giants medical staff and independent medical providers followed the concussion protocol while assessing Dart.

The protocol dictates “only medical personnel deemed essential to the care of the athlete” may enter the medical tent while a player is being examined, Friday’s joint statement noted.

Dart, the No. 25 overall draft pick out of Ole Miss, replaced Wilson as New York’s starting quarterback in the fourth week of the season.

He’s steered the Giants, who are 2-5 overall, to two wins and two losses in his starts while completing 60.2% of passes for 791 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Giants visit the Eagles on Sunday to conclude their two-game season series.

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles of the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Giants rookie Jaxson Dart ready to embrace villain role in Philly

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Jaxson Dart enjoyed the hostile road environments in the SEC, so the New York Giants’ rookie is ready to embrace the villain role when he visits Philadelphia for the first time as an NFL quarterback on Sunday.

“It’s going to be intense for sure,” Dart said Wednesday. “I can’t wait to go out there and compete and kind of just feel the hostility in the air. The rivalry between the two organizations — it’s going to be really cool. I kind of compare it to an SEC rivalry, so I’m really excited for the atmosphere. I know it’s going to be intense, but just excited for it.”

The former Ole Miss star hasn’t tasted success on the road yet in the NFL. Since taking over as the starter, Dart has a pair of home wins but is 0-2 away from MetLife Stadium. That includes last Sunday’s 33-32 heartbreaker in Denver, where the Giants blew a 26-8 fourth-quarter lead.

“Obviously it stings for a little bit, but we’ve got to move on,” Dart said. “We can’t let it affect the next game and next moment.”

That next moment comes with a unique challenge on Sunday. Dart will face not only the defending Super Bowl champions, but also a bitter division rival that had no answers for the rookie quarterback in a 34-17 loss at New York on “Thursday Night Football” just two weeks ago.

The Eagles rebounded from their second consecutive loss with a 28-22 win at Minnesota on Sunday. They are now 3-1 at home, with the rematch against the Giants leading into Philadelphia’s bye week.

At 5-2 on the season, Philadelphia is 1 1/2 games ahead of Dallas, two ahead of Washington and three clear of the 2-5 Giants.

However, the Eagles know they’re facing a rival with a young quarterback who has brought a new swagger to the long-downtrodden franchise along with fellow rookie running back Cam Scattebo.

“Especially this quick of a turnaround, I don’t think I’ve ever done that before,” Dart said. “Each team is going make a lot of adjustments on what we saw two weeks ago and it’s just going to be a game of chess and we’re going to have to figure out what they’re doing early, they’re going to have to figure out what we’re doing early. It’s just going to be a game of constant adjustments.”

Dart is embracing the challenge, referring to the “high-pressure moments” he has been put in since he was a kid. He’s also expecting everything the notorious Philadelphia fans can throw at him, and said he doesn’t mind playing the villain role as the Giants try to get their first win at Lincoln Financial Field in 12 years.

“Yeah, I think a little bit. I mean I think anybody finds it enjoyable when you’re able to win games on the road,” Dart said. “I like to hear (the crowd). It just amps up the intensity, amps up the moment.”

Veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton (Auburn) said that while the SEC is similar, playing in Philadelphia as a bitter rival is definitely different.

“I mean, if he didn’t have any haters, he’ll find out where they all live,” Slayton joked. “He’s about to get introduced to all of them.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) leaves the injury tent during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

NFL, NFLPA launch review of Jaxson Dart concussion protocol

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL has initiated a review of the concussion protocol applied in the evaluation of New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during Thursday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The league announced Friday that the review will be conducted jointly with the NFL Players Association.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll ventured toward the blue injury tent while Dart was being evaluated for a concussion during the Giants’ 34-17 victory over the Eagles. Dart was injured late in the third quarter after he fell into Philadelphia Azeez Ojulari while being sacked by fellow linebacker Patrick Johnson.

“I apologized directly to our team physician. I just wanted (Dart) out there if he was OK,” Daboll told reporters after the game. “But I wanted the process, like we were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down, I would have burned a timeout if he could have come out there. I was asking how long was it going to take.

“Again, you want your guy out there. Not at risk of anything else.”

Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo also poked his head into the blue injury tent.

“I was making sure that Jaxson wasn’t hurting anybody in the injury tent,” Skattebo joked.

“He’s a dog. He wants to be back on the field. I knew going over there, I needed to calm down a little bit because I knew he was going to be on fire. I was trying to go over there before the drive was over, trying to tell him, ‘relax, relax we’re good’, but I had to wait and then when I was in there he was a little fired up, but we know we have to go through protocol and do all that stuff to make sure we can get back on the field. I went in there and kind of, ‘We’re good, man, we’ve got you,’ and that’s it.”

For his part, Dart said he just wanted to get back on the field.

“It felt so long,” Dart said. “Yeah, had a few guys popped in. I was just trying to get back there on the field. I understand they have protocol and whatnot. I was just trying to get out there fast.”

Dart, who was sidelined for two plays, completed 17 of 25 passes for 195 yards and ran for 58 yards on 13 attempts.

The Giants (2-4) visit the Denver Broncos on Oct. 19.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) passes the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Giants coach: QB Jaxson Dart (hamstring) ‘OK’ to play vs. Eagles

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New York Giants coach Brian Daboll said on Tuesday that quarterback Jaxson Dart will “be OK’ to play in Thursday night’s home game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Dart was listed as a limited participant because of a hamstring issue on the Giants’ injury report on Monday, when the team did not practice so participation is an estimation.

The rookie has played in four games, starting the last two with the Giants beating the visiting Los Angeles Chargers 21-18 before losing last Sunday 26-14 at New Orleans. The sore left hamstring was revealed after the Sept. 28 win in his first start, and he played the entire game against the Saints.

Dart has completed 39 of 60 passes (65 percent) for 313 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has rushed 19 times for 109 yards and one TD.

The Giants selected Dart in the first round (25th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss.

Daboll also said ahead of Tuesday’s practice that wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (back) would not participate.

The pair were listed on Monday’s report as non-participants along with linebackers Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles (hamstring). Dart was listed as limited along with running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder), cornerback Dru Phillips (hip) and safeties Dane Belton (shoulder), Jevon Holland (calf) and Tyler Nubin (groin).

The Giants (1-4) host the Eagles (4-1) in East Rutherford, N.J. Philadelphia left guard Landon Dickerson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, could miss the next couple of games with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday.

–Field Level Media