Reflecting on the game, Giants head coach John Harbaugh expressed some concern that rookie Jackson Dart’s previous visits to the medical tent might have influenced the decision to call him in again during the second quarter of Saturday’s 13-10 preseason loss to the Vikings.
Dart took a significant hit from safety Jay Ward after running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. failed to pick up Ward in time.
He hit the ground hard and lay there for several moments.
Feeling a bit “embarrassed,” he mentioned having to go through concussion tests.
“It’s frustrating, for sure,” Harbaugh said on Sunday. “They do their job; they’re trying to protect the players. I think it likely comes down to history and what they remember. We can’t know if another quarterback would have had the same treatment.” The uncertainty hung in the air.
This certainly doesn’t imply that Dart was careless with his physicality.
It was just a situation where Tracy missed his assignment and that led to Dart getting hit.
Harbaugh commented, “There was no indication he should have been hit there. Basic protection was in place. It’s expected that we’ll keep him safe in such situations.” Of course, in football, some hits are unavoidable. But it shouldn’t have been so easy for the defense to reach him.
Adding to concerns, it seems the Giants may have to seek a new running back after Dante “Turbo” Miller exited the game due to a soft tissue and groin injury. Currently, they only have six running backs available. In a tight spot, the Giants found themselves down by three points with a chance for rookie Dominik Zvada to attempt a 62-yard field goal with just 2:29 remaining. After some back-and-forth with special teams coordinator Chris Horton, Harbaugh decided it was too much to try kicking into the wind. “We really wanted to send him out there,” Harbaugh recalled. “Maybe he would’ve made it.” Hoping for a defensive stop to regain possession, the Giants ultimately watched the Vikings secure two first downs and run down the clock.
During the game, Harbaugh also challenged a play after a Jordan Addison reception early in the first quarter, which he lost, but gained eight yards and a first down. His headset was buzzing with insights from Ty Siam, the director of football data and innovation who had previously worked under Brian Daboll.
“I was pleased with how he handled it,” Harbaugh remarked. “The challenge seemed justified. The ball did shift, and while his hands were at his sides, it hit the ground and went beyond his control. They didn’t overturn it, probably due to a lack of clear visibility. It was a solid challenge.”
