The Giants and Their Jackson Dart Dilemma

The New York Giants seem to be facing a bit of a dilemma with their rookie quarterback, Jackson Dart. Yet again, Dart struggled during the Patriots’ convincing 33-15 victory, enduring several tough hits. One notable moment had him refusing to step out of bounds on the sidelines before being hit hard.

Before the “Monday Night Football” matchup, former Cowboys star Troy Aikman expressed his concerns about Dart’s safety. He remarked, perhaps rather pointedly, that the way Dart plays slightly worries him.

Aikman drew parallels between Dart and the legendary Jim McMahon, saying, “He just brings the team together.” But he didn’t shy away from cautioning Dart: “He needs to protect himself better than he has been.”

In the game’s first quarter, a pivotal moment occurred when Dart tried to run down the sideline but got taken down by Christian Ellis, leading to a small scuffle. Aikman again stressed the need for Dart to be more cautious, suggesting it felt like a legitimate shot to him.

“He’s trying to gain more ground, but he has to realize that he is a target out there,” he added.

After the game, Dart put forth a rather determined front regarding the physicality he faces on the field. “This is football; whether you’re in or out of the pocket, hits are part of the game. It shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s followed my career,” he said to reporters, almost resolutely.

Interestingly, Jon Gruden, a potential candidate for the Giants’ head coaching position, chimed in on social media, saying Dart needed to “exit the restricted area.”

So far this season, Dart has spent some time in the blue medical tent—four times to be exact—and this was after missing a couple of weeks due to a concussion. The Giants have just one week left before they face off against the manager at MetLife Stadium.