Jaxson Dart Delivers Spark in Giants’ Preseason Start Before Injury Scare

Thursday night was the moment Giants fans had been waiting for: rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart stepping onto the field for his first NFL start. Head coach Brian Daboll gave the 22-year-old the keys to the offense against the Patriots at MetLife Stadium, and Dart wasted no time showing why New York traded up to draft him.

Lining up with a unit of reserves while the starters rested, Dart immediately flashed the poise and confidence that’s drawn so much attention this preseason. His very first pass was a rope on the run, finding Gunner Olszewski in stride. Olszewski turned the completion into a 50-yard gain, igniting the crowd.

Here is Jaxson Dart’s 50-yard throw that set up the TD. pic.twitter.com/BTcS6Y8VTm

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) August 22, 2025

Moments later, Dart connected again — this time with tight end Greg Dulcich, who beat his man for a 7-yard touchdown. It was Dart’s second scoring strike to Dulcich in as many weeks, after the pair linked up in a win over the Jets.

Jaxson Dart leads a 5-play, 65-yard touchdown drive on the opening series! https://t.co/snyfzEIh6r

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) August 22, 2025

A Promising Start…with Some Dropped Balls

Not every throw landed quite the way Dart wanted; although, that was no fault of his own. Rookie Thomas Fidone nearly hauled in a diving touchdown grab but couldn’t secure it, while drops by Beaux Collins and Jonathan Ward stalled momentum. Even a perfectly placed deep shot to Jalin Hyatt slipped through. Still, the young QB showed flashes of creativity, extending plays and keeping the offense moving.

Jaxson is fired up as he leads NY to an opening-series TD over the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/8WSzYdPd50

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) August 22, 2025

Late in the first quarter, Daboll left the offense on the field for a fourth down, and Dart answered with a gutsy scramble. He ran 23 yards for a first down but took a hard shot from behind by linebacker Jack Gibbens. The hit forced a fumble, though a Patriots penalty allowed the Giants to keep possession.

The bigger concern was Dart himself — shaken up, he headed to the blue medical tent to be checked for a concussion.

Cleared but Shut Down

After being cleared, Dart returned to the sideline for a long talk with Daboll, who likely emphasized the importance of sliding instead of taking unnecessary punishment. By then, veteran Jameis Winston had stepped in, immediately finding Hyatt for a 27-yard touchdown. Dart’s night was done.

His final stat line: 6-for-12 passing, 81 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 99.7.

Confidence Continues to Grow Across Three Games

Dart has now wrapped up his first preseason with plenty of positives. In three games, he completed 26 of 35 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns through the air, and another on the ground. His composure, athleticism, and leadership have all been on display — exactly what the Giants envisioned when they traded up to grab him at No. 25 overall.

Daboll has remained clear that 36-year-old Russell Wilson will open the season as the starter when the Giants face Washington on Sept. 7. Wilson looked sharp in limited action earlier this month, completing 10 of 14 passes for 136 yards across two games.

Still, Dart has likely done enough to earn the backup job ahead of Winston. For a rookie just getting started, that’s no small accomplishment. And for Giants fans, it’s a glimpse of what the future could hold.