Giants' Jaxson Dart checked for concussion after punishing sack, then throws jump-pass TD upon return to preseason opener

Minimizing the number of hits Jaxson Dart takes in his second season with the New York Giants will be key for the 2025 first-round pick. He weathered a massive one on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings in the teams’ preseason opener at MetLife Stadium.

It arrived on the final play of the first quarter, and it sent Dart to the medical tent, where he was checked for a concussion, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Dart, who notably dealt with concussion issues throughout his rookie season — even popping into the blue tent five times in a 10-game span — was quickly cleared. He reentered the exhibition in the second quarter and finished the drive he started.

The 23-year-old Ole Miss product bounced outside the pocket, rolled left and uncorked a 15-yard jump pass that located rookie wideout Malachi Fields in the end zone for six.

Here’s another look at the play, from the back of the end zone, where Fields — a third-round pick out of Notre Dame — elevated for the scoring grab.

That sequence was awfully reminiscent of Dart’s tantalizing yet concerning first season in the league. He wowed with his dual-threat ability, except the blows he suffered along the way were cause for worry.

This time, though, the serious contact Dart sustained occurred inside the tackle box. He was blindsided by a blitzing safety. Minnesota’s Jay Ward flew in, easily evading New York running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s pass protection, and laid the wood on Dart.

Dart’s head cocked forward before he was brought suddenly to the ground. It was the second sack he experienced in the game.

The first one resulted from him aborting a third-down pass attempt with a pump fake and then scrambling around in the backfield to the demise of the Giants’ first drive.

Dart clocked out with 14 snaps played. He went 3 of 4 for 26 yards to go along with his highlight-reel touchdown. His journey to the medical tent isn’t part of that stat line; however, it won’t be forgotten in the aftermath of the preseason contest.