New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart claimed he was ‘puzzled’ after his latest trip to the medical tent.
Dart started under center for the Giants in their 13-10 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in their preseason opener on Saturday afternoon.
However, the signal caller gave Giants fans a scare just under one month until the 2026 NFL season gets underway after taking a brutal hit.
Dart finished the first quarter lying on the turf following a blitz from Vikings safety Jay Ward, leaving the second-year quarterback slow to get back to his feet.
The hit left Dart in a familiar setting as he was forced to take a trip to the blue medical tent on the sidelines for a concussion check.
The latest check came after Dart had to be checked for a concussion five times last year during his rookie season.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart took yet another trip to the medical tent
The signal caller claimed he was left ‘puzzled’ by the NFL’s rules on concussion checks
And, following the game, the Giants star struggled to keep his frustration over the recurrence at bay.
‘As far as the blue tent, I really respect the rules and the thought behind the NFL has of keeping players healthy and reviewing things,’ Dart said, via ESPN. ‘But at the same time, I’m still puzzled by it just feeling like every time that I get hit, I find my way in there, which, at times, I still try to wrap my head around.’
Last year, Dart was forced to sit out two games after being diagnosed with a concussion during his rookie season.
‘If a normal QB takes that hit, I’m sure not much is going to be said about it,’ right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. ‘But, you know, when we play in New York and it’s Jaxson Dart, I’m assuming people are going to make it bigger than it actually is.
‘I guess that is just the reality we live in right now. People are going to blow things up that don’t really necessarily have to be blown up.’
Fortunately for head coach John Harbaugh, the Giants and the army of anxious fans, this time, Dart cleared the concussion protocol to return two plays later. And in doing so, he would whet fans’ collective appetite for the upcoming season.
Rolling to his left from the 15-yard line, Dart floated the ball into a crowded end zone, where rookie third-round pick Malachi Fields managed to come down with the football.
Dart is helped off the field after being sacked by Minnesota Vikings’ Jay Ward
Dart introduces President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in May
Dart was pulled after completing 3 of 4 passes for 26 yards and the aforementioned touchdown.
The Ole Miss product has become a fan favorite of frustrated Giants fans, as well as President Donald Trump, who had Dart introduce him at a recent rally.
Asked by ESPN for his Super Bowl favorites heading into the season, Trump said this week that ‘New England looks good,’ the ‘LA Rams are looking very strong,’ and included the Giants as well.
‘I like their quarterback a lot,’ Trump said.
