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Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has been exceptional through the New York Giants’ first two preseason games.
First-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart stole the show for the New York Giants‘ offense in a 31-12 victory over the New York Jets, in Week 2 of a preseason that has been nothing short of stellar for the No. 25 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.
Dart passed for a game-high 137 yards and a touchdown while completing 14-of 16 passing attempts and showing confidence moving the football for the Giants’ second-team offense.
Afterwards, Giants head coach Brian Daboll needed just two words to describe Dart’s play.
“Executed well,” Dart told reporters.
Throughout Saturday night’s game, Dart seemed confident and comfortable in the pocket, made sound decisions and flashed the ability to not just consistently hit on short and intermediate throws but accuracy downfield in the vertical passing game, as well.
In addition to his play with the second-team offense, taking over for Russell Wilson who started and passed for 108 yards and one interception, Daboll inserted Dart into the game for a play with the first-team offense. It was a Dart screen pass to Theo Johnson that the second-year tight end caught and turned upfield for a 30-yard gain.
“You never know when you’re going to have to go in,” Daboll said of putting Dart out there for a play, a decision he says was made in the moment without warning any coaches or Dart. “So just part of the multiple things we’ve done with a young quarterback in years past, where I was before, and thought it would be good for him for a play to get in there and not know that he’s going in there. He didn’t know it. He threw a little screen pass for 30, doesn’t hurt.”
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Whether Daboll was merely preparing Dart and staff for an injury-situation or if the Giants have a designed package of plays for Dart during whatever timeframe Wilson is the starting quarterback remains to be seen.
However, through two preseason games, Dart’s production; 291 passing yards and two touchdowns combined with his command of the offense should make the Giants feel optimistic about his ability to play at a high level whenever he sees the field in the regular season.
Brian Daboll Downplays Any Giants Quarterback Competition
Ishika Samant | Getty Brian Daboll reiterated the New York Giants’ plans for Russell Wilson to open the season as the starting quarterback.
Despite Dart’s impressive first two exhibition games, Daboll seems to be resisting any temptation to open up any competition for or conversation about reversing course on plans for Wilson to open the regular season as the starting quarterback.
“Russ is our starter and we’re going to keep developing Jaxson,” Daboll told reporters. “Jaxson’s just got to continue to work to get better, and we’ve got to help him get better … What we’re trying to do is help Jaxson be the best quarterback he can be. Just like all the quarterbacks. Just like every player on the team.”
Daboll is in the unenviable position of entering the 2025 campaign on one of the hottest seats of any head coach across the NFL, needing to show progress in terms of victories and the team’s development moving forward in order to convince Giants owner John Mara not to issue him his walking papers at season’s end, if not before, while also considering Dart’s development and long-term trajectory.
It sounds as though the Giants still intend on starting Wilson against the Washington Commanders Week 1.
However, if Dart keeps performing at the high level he has throughout this summer, it might get more difficult to avoid the realization that playing the rookie may be the answer for both of Daboll’s goals for 2025.
“He’s going every day,” Daboll told reporters, of Dart. “Have a lot of confidence in that young man. He’s done a good job for us since he’s been here in every area you could do, off the field, on the field, leadership, moxie, intelligence.”
Matt Lombardo covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. Founder, NFL Insider for Between The Hashmarks and host of the Between The Hashmarks Podcast. A seasoned NFL reporter with over a decade of experience, he previously served as FanSided’s national NFL insider and host of “The Matt Lombardo Show” podcast. Past stops also include NJ.com and radio for 97.5 The Fanatic and 97.3 ESPN FM. More about Matt Lombardo
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