Jaxson Dart, the rookie quarterback for the New York Giants, is preparing for an emotionally charged matchup against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. This game means a lot to Dart personally. The very same Saints team that had him as a second round pick— Tyler Shough — just let him pass by in the NFL Draft. Dart worked out for the Saints several times before the draft. His work ethic and obvious desire to be a part of the team really came through. Lady Luck was in the Giants’ corner. Then, after a series of deals, they traded back into the first round and used the 25th overall pick to snag Dart.
Last weekend was the biggest weekend of Dart’s young career. His first start came in for the Los Angeles Chargers. Even when confronted with a hostile environment and an unfortunate hamstring injury during the contest, Dart proved to be tough as nails. He absorbed 17 pressures—second among quarterbacks—behind only the ever-pressured Carson Wentz. At one point, he was checked out for a concussion, but he was able to overcome that assessment and finish out the game.
Dart’s performance last week has fans and analysts alike buzzing about his potential. He articulated a sense of determination moving forward, stating, “There is always a chip on your shoulder any time something like that happens.” His personal motivation to prove himself comes through. Particularly, he would want to make an impression on a team that was previously interested in him, but selected another player instead.
Dart was fully involved in practice on Wednesday, but had his left leg heavily taped, causing concern about how healthy he really was. Nevertheless, he assured reporters that he felt good despite the injury and did not regret the aggressive style of play that led to his hits. That probably isn’t the shrewdest decision with my throwing hand,” he said. His bravado betrayed a fearlessness that would lead him to try anything on the field.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll emphasized communication and simplicity on offense. The story of the team preparing for their first game. He emphasized the art of managing play calls and snap counts in the moment and with pace, particularly in a high noise stadium setting. “Offensively, we’re going to have to do a good job of communicating,” Daboll stated. He further elaborated, saying, “So we’re going to work at it out here, blasting it as loud as we can, and just make sure we’re on point with our communication.”
Dart’s inaugural start was poorly rated by the “experts,” but many considered it largely successful under the conditions. His history with the Saints makes for an interesting layer to this matchup. Oh, you know it was great,” he said. He reminisced about his time spent in New Orleans leading up to the draft. The quarterback’s attention now turns to proving what he can do under center to them.
Dart has one explicit goal in preparing for Sunday’s game. He needs to cement himself as the starting quarterback and prove the Saints’ faith in him was misjudged. With a growing fanbase rallying behind him and a supportive coaching staff encouraging improvement in communication and strategy, Dart’s resolve remains strong.
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