University of Kwazulu-Natal

Giants Find New Juice With Rookie Qb Jaxson Dart

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
giants find new juice with rookie qb jaxson dart

The New York Giants won't have the services of quarterback Jaxson Dart for the Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers. Dart suffered a concussion in the Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears that led to his being ruled out for Sunday. The rookie signal-caller did not log a single practice throughout the week before a decision on his status was officially made Friday. However, we did see a positive sign for Dart on Friday that seems to suggest his absence might last just one game. Here's what we know. We don't have an exact answer to this yet, but The New York Post's Ryan Dunleavy reports that Dart was spotted on the practice field on Friday, which was the first time we've seen...

Dunleavy adds that Dart's simple presence on the field could indicate he's in Phase 2 of the concussion protocol and that opens the door for him to play in Week 12. Jaxson Dart was not supposed to be on the field this early. The plan was patience, a year of watching and learning. Most believed throwing him into action too soon would hurt his growth and sink the Giants’ offense. But Coach Brian Daboll had other ideas. He trusted his rookie quarterback enough to start him against the undefeated Chargers.

With the Giants desperate for a spark, Dart was given the chance to lead. And he delivered. The Giants offense had looked flat in two of their three losses. Against Los Angeles, Dart gave it a pulse. He brought energy, toughness, and playmaking ability that made the team believe. Yes, the defense deserves credit.

The pass rush came alive with 20 pressures. Abdul Carter racked up five quarterback hits, and Brian Burns’ late sack closed the door. Still, it was Dart who changed the tone. He gave the Giants something they had not felt in weeks: life. Dart took heavy punishment from a physical Chargers defense. He even tweaked his hamstring, but he never wavered.

Each time he was hit, he got back up and kept fighting. The New York Giants are about to travel back in time to the pre-Jaxson Dart days in Week 11, thanks to a concussion that will sideline the rookie. Big Blue has grown accustomed to competent quarterback play since Dart took over in Week 4, something they haven't seen much of in the post-Eli Manning era. Now it's a return to the days of old, living life without their emerging star. Change has been a theme for the Giants since their Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears. It was the loss that ultimately led to the firing of head coach Brian Daboll.

It was the loss that knocked Dart out with a concussion. It was the loss that saw interim head coach Mike Kafka elevate Jameis Winston to QB2 after Russell Wilson proved to be ineffective. The Giants, their fans and Dart are familiarizing themselves with the league's concussion protocol, hoping a return is coming sooner rather than later. Dart could return as early as Week 12 if he clears concussion protocol. It was exhilarating, chaotic and impossible to sustain. Rookie Jaxson Dart did something no one else could: he revitalized an apathetic Giants fanbase in his first start.

But as a fearless, freewheeling gunslinger, that also meant provoking the football gods with his style of play. After improbable wins over the Chargers in his debut and the division-leading Eagles two weeks later, Dart kept making big plays -- with his legs and, when things broke down (which was often), with... Dart was so good, so soon, that he looked like he was going to save Brian Daboll's job. But that style -- more Cam Skattebo than your typical NFL quarterback -- caught up with Dart and Daboll in Week 10. The Giants blew another fourth-quarter lead, this time against the Bears. The rookie left Chicago in concussion protocol.

And the coach was fired midway through his fourth season. We all knew that Daboll faced long odds to survive the season. In January, some three months before the team traded back into the first round to take Dart, Giants co-owner John Mara said of righting a franchise that has had just one winning season since... New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart reacts after a call on the field in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) is sacked by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94), defensive tackle Grover Stewart (90) and outside linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) during the first half of an NFL... 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin (4) gestures after kicking a field goal to win the game during the end of the second half at an NFL football game against the New York Jets... 21, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro, top, celebrates after his winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh answers questions after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Carrie Giordano)

The New York Giants are 0-2 in the current season. As the pressure mounts, the spotlight isn’t just on Russell Wilson; it’s quietly shifting to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Dart was brought in as the team’s potential future at the position. But for now, he finds himself holding a clipboard on Sundays, learning the ropes behind a veteran who’s keeping the job, for the moment. Dart entered training camp with plenty of buzz. His poise, arm strength, and mobility made him one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class.

And when the preseason rolled around, he lived up to the hype. In the pre-season, Dart threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, also flashing his legs with a rushing score. Even during a brief concussion scare in the final preseason game, he bounced back quickly, showing resilience and toughness. By all accounts, he looked NFL-ready. The Giants, however, have a long-term strategy. They have chosen the “Patrick Mahomes rookie treatment” rather than hurriedly bringing Dart onto the field.

That means he’s learning the playbook, acclimating to NFL speed, spending time on the scout team, and observing Wilson as he copes with the demands of being a starting quarterback in New York. If given his druthers, New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart would rather be out there on the field each Sunday, doing his part to help his teammates chase their goals. But for the time being, the best that Dart, as the Giants’ No. 2 quarterback, can expect until further notice is a chance to relieve starter Russell Wilson in the event of an injury or a blowout either way. “Yeah, my job's just to be prepared every week,” Dart told reporters this week.. “We have a great quarterback room, and I think that all of us have the same approach of not looking at so much of being on the field but just preparing every day for...

Not that it’s been easy for the competitor. The New York Giants made some sweeping changes over the offseason, with perhaps their biggest change coming at the quarterback position. Gone is last year’s trio of Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, and Drew Lock, and in are Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart. Heading into Week 1, Wilson has been pegged as the team’s starter, with Dart being named his top backup over Winston. And according to a recent report, the Giants were so impressed with what Dart did during training camp and his three preseason contests that he could end up making his NFL debut in their... Dart spent time with the USC Trojans and Ole Miss Rebels in college, with his work as a starter at Ole Miss helping turn him into one of the top quarterback prospects in the...

After throwing for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 for the Rebels, the Giants selected Dart with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 draft. Some folks were a bit surprised by the pick, as Dart was viewed as more of a second-round pick. Beyond that, he came off the board before Shedeur Sanders, who was believed to be the second-best quarterback in the draft behind Cam Ward in the eyes of many talent evaluators. A strong body of work from Dart over the summer, though, resulted in the perception of this pick changing quite a bit. In a rather surprising turn of events, Dart is the Giants‘ top backup instead of Winston, who was signed in free agency this offseason to fill that role.

And according to a report from NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, New York has created a package of plays for Dart that could result in him making his pro... In the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Giants walked out with a pair of building blocks for the future. First, they nabbed defensive standout Abdul Carter with the third overall pick. New York then executed a trade to acquire the 25th selection, which they then used to take quarterback Jaxson Dart. Though the latter won't be hitting the field right away, his teammates are already starting to rally behind him. Dart has turned heads in his early days with the Giants, which could be seen as a blessing and a curse.

This bodes well for him being able to take over the reins at QB in the future, but could also create early competition between him and Russell Wilson. After signing a one-year deal with the Giants in free agency, the veteran will assume the starting position to start the season. Since minicamp, countless members of the Giants have spoken out about Dart and his abilities. Among the most recent to do so was running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. While appearing on Good Morning Football, he touched on how confident the first-round pick has looked in his early days in the pros. Also read: Analyst Opens up on 'Established' NY Giants Rookie Jaxson Dart

People Also Search

The New York Giants Won't Have The Services Of Quarterback

The New York Giants won't have the services of quarterback Jaxson Dart for the Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers. Dart suffered a concussion in the Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears that led to his being ruled out for Sunday. The rookie signal-caller did not log a single practice throughout the week before a decision on his status was officially made Friday. However, we did see a positive...

Dunleavy Adds That Dart's Simple Presence On The Field Could

Dunleavy adds that Dart's simple presence on the field could indicate he's in Phase 2 of the concussion protocol and that opens the door for him to play in Week 12. Jaxson Dart was not supposed to be on the field this early. The plan was patience, a year of watching and learning. Most believed throwing him into action too soon would hurt his growth and sink the Giants’ offense. But Coach Brian Dab...

With The Giants Desperate For A Spark, Dart Was Given

With the Giants desperate for a spark, Dart was given the chance to lead. And he delivered. The Giants offense had looked flat in two of their three losses. Against Los Angeles, Dart gave it a pulse. He brought energy, toughness, and playmaking ability that made the team believe. Yes, the defense deserves credit.

The Pass Rush Came Alive With 20 Pressures. Abdul Carter

The pass rush came alive with 20 pressures. Abdul Carter racked up five quarterback hits, and Brian Burns’ late sack closed the door. Still, it was Dart who changed the tone. He gave the Giants something they had not felt in weeks: life. Dart took heavy punishment from a physical Chargers defense. He even tweaked his hamstring, but he never wavered.

Each Time He Was Hit, He Got Back Up And

Each time he was hit, he got back up and kept fighting. The New York Giants are about to travel back in time to the pre-Jaxson Dart days in Week 11, thanks to a concussion that will sideline the rookie. Big Blue has grown accustomed to competent quarterback play since Dart took over in Week 4, something they haven't seen much of in the post-Eli Manning era. Now it's a return to the days of old, li...