The return of Jaxson Dart to the New York Giants lineup failed to ignite the team, as the rookie quarterback encountered a harsh lesson during the game. In the first quarter of a 33-15 defeat against the New England Patriots, Dart attempted to make a play by scrambling out of the pocket. As he neared the sideline, he was met with a legal but jarring hit from Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss, sending Dart momentarily airborne. This incident was particularly concerning as Dart had missed the previous two games due to a concussion.
Despite the hit, Dart managed to complete 17 of 24 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown, but the loss marked the Giants” seventh consecutive defeat. Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka commented on Dart”s aggressive playing style, noting, “Jaxson”s an aggressive football player. He”s on the sideline, trying to get himself out of bounds. He bounced up. He”s a tough kid. Obviously, we don”t want him to take any hits that are unnecessary.”
The hit sparked an immediate reaction from the Giants, particularly tight end Theo Johnson, who confronted Elliss. This led to a brief skirmish involving players from both teams, ending with a penalty for unnecessary roughness against Johnson. Dart standing tall and leading the huddle after the hit was seen as a positive sign amid a challenging season.
“I would do the same for him,” Dart said, referring to Johnson”s defense of him. “That”s the relationship that we have. You saw the O-line get in there. We have each other”s backs. It”s not fun losing. It doesn”t look super bright from the outside, but it takes time to turn things around. Everybody wants it now. I”m hoping that we can continue to build and find a little bit of momentum.”
The 12-yard run that preceded the hit also served as a reminder for Dart to possibly reconsider his approach to avoid further injuries, as his current style could jeopardize his longevity in the NFL. “This is football. Whether I”m inside the pocket or outside the pocket, I”m going to get hit,” Dart stated. “We”re not playing soccer out there. It”s just part of the game. I”ve played this way my entire life. It shouldn”t be a shocker to anyone who has followed my career.”
In contrast, Dart pointed to the example of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who faced concussion issues in his rookie season. Maye has since adapted his game, learning to slide effectively to avoid unnecessary hits. In his second year, he has been able to evade those earlier challenges and performed well during the game, throwing for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
“He”s done a great job,” Dart remarked about Maye after the game. “I”m not into comparisons. Everyone”s journey is different. I”ve known Drake for years. He also struggled during his first year. I”m just trying my best to change this franchise around and do my part. Just have to stay diligent with that.”
Even with the risks associated with his playing style, Dart intends to keep making plays both through passing and running. He responded succinctly to concerns about his aggressive nature: “Tell them thanks for looking out for me.”
