Jaxson Dart played his final game of this preseason for the New York Giants. The way he has played in the three preseason games, it shouldn’t be long before we see him again.
The first-round rookie quarterback has been one of the stars of the preseason. He had more highlights Thursday night, leading a quick touchdown drive to start the game and making other nice throws. That’s what he has done all month.
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Giants head coach Brian Daboll has said at every turn that Russell Wilson is the team’s starting quarterback, and he seems set on that plan for the opener. But Dart has gone from a player who everyone thought might need to sit half of a season or more to one that should get a chance soon if Wilson struggles. There will continue to be speculation if he should start the season as QB1. He has conjured up memories of the 2012 Seahawks and Wilson winning the job as a rookie with his stellar play in the preseason.
Dart got the start as Wilson rested in Thursday’s preseason finale against the New England Patriots, and the rookie made plays right away. He scrambled around on his first pass and hit Gunner Olszewski on a short pass. Olszewski turned upfield and gained 50 yards.
The drive ended with Dart hitting tight end Greg Dulcich for a 7-yard touchdown.
Dart was much better than his final numbers indicated. The Giants dropped five passes, including two by Beaux Collins and two more deep downfield to Jalin Hyatt. All of those passes were on the hands of the intended receiver, as Dart consistently delivered accurate throws. Dart also had a 13-yard pass wiped out due to a holding penalty, and that flag led to the drive stalling.
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Dart had a notable bad play late in the first quarter. He scrambled on fourth down for the first down, but was hit hard and fumbled, and was taken to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. The Giants kept possession due to a Patriots penalty on the play, Jameis Winston came on for Dart and on his first play he threw deep. Hyatt held onto that throw for a touchdown. Dart was back on the bench after a quick trip to the medical tent and cleared concussion protocol, but he was done for the night after the big hit.
After Dart took that blow, the Amazon Prime broadcast caught a moment in which head coach Brian Daboll told his young quarterback, “Slide.” He’ll learn.
Dart completed 6 of 12 passes for 81 yards and it should have been way better if not for the drops. He was inaccurate on only one pass, into the end zone after Olszewski’s big again.
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Every time Dart has played in the preseason, he has made things happen. He might need some development coming out of an offense at Ole Miss that is much less complicated than a pro scheme, but the results with the Giants have been promising. Wilson is a bridge quarterback to whenever the Dart era begins, and at this point in Wilson’s career he has a fairly low ceiling. Giants fans aren’t going to be patient if Wilson struggles because they have seen Dart’s ability to make plays.
Given how good Dart was in August, Giants fans should see him again soon.
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