Jaxson Dart Hits a Wall in Week 16 as Giants’ Troubles Mount
Jaxson Dart’s rookie season with the New York Giants has been anything but smooth sailing. It’s been a year marked by flashes of promise, injury setbacks, and now, his toughest outing yet. In the Giants' Week 16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Dart stayed healthy-but his performance took a nosedive.
Facing a disciplined and physical Vikings defense, Dart completed just 7 of 13 passes for 33 yards and an interception. That’s not just a bad day-it was the lowest point of his young NFL career.
His passer rating? A grim 27.4.
For a quarterback who was once in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year, that’s a steep drop.
And the timing couldn’t be worse. Since head coach Brian Daboll was let go, Dart’s play has taken a noticeable turn for the worse. The offense has looked disjointed, the rhythm is off, and Dart-who once played with confidence and urgency-is now looking like a quarterback searching for answers.
Former NFL running back Damien Harris didn’t hold back when asked about Dart’s recent play. “I’m not sold that Jaxson Dart is the guy,” Harris said during a segment on CBS Sports HQ. “Whenever he tries to extend plays and use his legs and have this bat-out-of-hell mentality, he just exposes himself to injuries-and we’ve already seen that.”
Harris’ critique zeroed in on Dart’s inconsistency and his tendency to play reckless football. For a quarterback drafted in the first round just this past spring, those are red flags. And while Harris acknowledged Dart’s raw talent, he made it clear: the Giants can’t pencil him in as the long-term answer just yet.
Let’s be honest-Harris isn’t wrong to question Dart’s trajectory. But the conversation can’t stop there.
The Giants’ situation is a mess right now. They’ve lost nine straight games.
The offensive line has been a revolving door. On Sunday, they lost Andrew Thomas-one of the few stabilizing forces up front.
And the weapons? With Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers sidelined, Dart was left throwing to arguably the league’s weakest receiving corps.
That’s not a recipe for success, no matter who’s under center.
The Giants leaned heavily on the run game against Minnesota, logging 30 rushing attempts. That’s a clear sign the coaching staff wasn’t ready to put the game in Dart’s hands.
And while that might protect a young quarterback from further mistakes, it also stunts his development. You don’t draft a QB in the first round just to hide him.
Dart’s critics, like Harris, are pointing to his inability to protect himself and his lack of polish in the pocket. But the bigger issue?
The Giants haven’t given him a stable environment to grow. Coaching changes, injuries, and a depleted roster have all played a role in his uneven rookie campaign.
“When you watch guys play, you can see when they have it,” Harris added. “And I don’t see it with Jaxson Dart. I just see too much inconsistency, too much liability, and I just don’t see the fundamentals that can keep you from losing before they get you to a place where you win.”
That’s a harsh but telling assessment. And while Dart may still have time to turn things around, the clock is ticking. Confidence is a fragile thing for a young quarterback, and right now, Dart looks like he’s pressing-trying to do too much behind a line that can’t protect him and with receivers who can’t separate.
The Giants have major decisions ahead. Do they continue to build around Dart, hoping that stability and better personnel will unlock his potential? Or do they hit the reset button again, possibly eyeing a new quarterback in the draft?
For now, Dart remains the face of a franchise in freefall. And while the criticism is growing louder, the real question is whether the Giants can finally create an environment where a young quarterback can actually succeed. Because until they do, it might not matter who’s taking the snaps.