With the New York Giants officially out of playoff contention, the spotlight now shifts squarely onto rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart - and not just for what he can do with the ball in his hands. As the team plays out the string of a lost season, Dart’s ability to stay healthy and on the field has become just as important as his development under center.
It’s a storyline that’s taken on added urgency after Dart absorbed a punishing hit in Week 13 against the Patriots while trying to squeeze out a few extra yards on a scramble. It was the kind of play that fires up teammates, sure - but also the kind that sends shudders through coaching staffs and front offices.
Interim offensive coordinator Tim Kelly addressed the hit earlier this week, echoing a message that’s becoming a recurring theme in Dart’s rookie campaign: protect yourself.
“I talked to him about it,” Kelly said. “He’s got to get out of bounds.
He’s got to get everything he can and make sure he’s clearly out of bounds so he’s not exposing himself. That was a clean hit.
Those guys were playing hard. We were playing hard.”
There’s no question Dart plays with an edge - a bit of that fearless, backyard football energy that’s both exciting and, at times, nerve-wracking. But the NFL isn’t college, and in this league, a quarterback’s best ability is often availability. That’s especially true for a young signal-caller trying to prove he’s the long-term answer.
Dart has already been evaluated for a concussion four times this season, starting in the preseason and culminating with the shot that knocked him out of the Giants’ Week 10 loss to the Bears. He missed two games after that, but following the Patriots game, he doubled down on his aggressive approach, saying he’s going to keep playing his style - noting that even star quarterbacks take hits.
That mindset is admirable, but it’s also a balancing act. And the Giants are trying to help Dart find that balance before it costs him more time - or worse.
“We talked about the awareness… of having that ability to go and get everything you can and then make sure that you’re protecting yourself and protecting your team and getting out of bounds,” Kelly said. “That was the biggest takeaway from that play.”
It’s a subtle but critical evolution that many young quarterbacks have to go through. The league is full of athletic, play-extending quarterbacks who’ve had to learn when to fight for the extra yard and when to live to play another down. It’s about knowing when the journey is over - and knowing that stepping out of bounds six inches earlier could be the difference between finishing the drive or finishing the season.
The stakes are even higher considering the Giants’ situation. With a new head coach on the horizon - and potentially a new general manager - the franchise could be in position to hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That kind of draft capital opens every door, including the one that leads to Dart’s replacement.
That makes the final stretch of the season critical for Dart. It’s not just about putting up numbers or flashing talent. It’s about showing he can stay upright, stay smart, and stay on the field.
“He does,” Kelly said, when asked if Dart understands that availability is part of the job. “And again, that’s part of his game that makes him unique and makes him the type of player that he is.
And you see it throughout the league with other young quarterbacks with a similar play style - learning when to say when. When is the journey over?
And that’s clear as day when the journey was over. The guy’s got you dead to rights.
You’re on the sideline already. Just duck out of bounds six inches earlier, and we’re not having this conversation right now.”
Dart will get another chance to show that growth this Sunday when the Giants host the 3-10 Washington Commanders. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, New York enters as a slight 2.5-point favorite - but the real win for the Giants would be seeing their young quarterback play smart, play tough, and walk off the field under his own power.
Because in a season that’s already gone sideways, the most important thing the Giants can learn is whether Jaxson Dart is ready to be the guy - not just in the huddle, but for the long haul.