FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The return of Jaxson Dart to the New York Giants did not ignite the team, as the rookie quarterback faced significant challenges during a 33-15 defeat against the New England Patriots.
In the first quarter of the game, Dart made an attempt to extend a play by scrambling out of the pocket. As he approached the Giants” sideline, Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss executed a hard yet legal hit that briefly lifted Dart off the ground. This incident was particularly concerning since Dart had missed the previous two games due to a concussion.
Dart managed to recover from the impact, completing 17 of 24 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown, but the Giants suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
“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,” said Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka. “Obviously, we don”t want him to take any hits that are unnecessary.”
In response to the hit on Dart, tight end Theo Johnson confronted Elliss, leading to a brief scuffle involving players from both teams, which resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty for Johnson. Nevertheless, Dart”s ability to stand tall and lead the huddle was seen as a fortunate moment for the Giants.
“I would do the same for him (Johnson). That”s the relationship that we have. You saw the O-line get in there. We have each other”s backs,” Dart remarked. “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.”
His 12-yard run served as a reminder that Dart may need to adjust his playing style if he wants to prolong his NFL career. “This is football. Whether I”m inside the pocket or outside the pocket, I”m going to get hit. We”re not playing soccer out there. It”s just part of the game,” Dart explained. “I”ve played this way my entire life. It shouldn”t be a shocker to anyone who has followed my career.”
Dart can look to other quarterbacks for inspiration on adjusting their approach. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye faced concussion issues during his rookie season and learned the importance of sliding to avoid injuries. In his second year, Maye has successfully navigated these challenges, contributing significantly to his team”s playoff aspirations.
In a game highlighted by Maye”s 282 passing yards and two touchdowns, his decision to slide near the sideline marked a significant evolution in his game. “He”s done a great job,” Dart commented on Maye”s progress. “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.”
Despite enduring some tough hits this season, Dart remains committed to making plays both through the air and on the ground. He provided a straightforward response to those who question his physical playstyle: “Tell them thanks for looking out for me.”
