CHICAGO — New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a concussion within the second half of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Dart took a tough hit on a fumble within the third quarter, getting hit from the facet as he ran by a defensive lineman monitoring again to make the play. His head hit the bottom, and he obtained up slowly, ultimately strolling to the sideline after remaining on the sphere for a number of seconds on his knees.
Dart returned to the sport the next drive for 2 performs after which went to the blue medical tent in between quarters. He walked slowly into the locker room afterward with a coach.
The primary-round decide was dominated out later within the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, it is unlucky,” coach Brian Daboll stated. “Sadly, he obtained damage.”
The Giants realized one thing was unsuitable between quarters. Dart went to the blue medical tent, and his helmet was ultimately taken out and positioned on the facet.
“So, with Dart it was going again out on the sphere, simply did not appear proper. So referred to as the trainers over and stated, ‘Let’s get him out and ensure he will get checked out,'” Daboll stated. “So, he went in and obtained checked out, evaluated for concussion.”
Daboll later added “any individual stated one thing” on the sideline that indicated that Dart wasn’t proper.
His teammates did not discover something within the huddle. They did not notice Dart was probably leaving the sport till Wilson started taking snaps on the sideline with backup heart Austin Schlottmann.
“I do not bear in mind what the stoppage was. However Austin went over to take snaps over with Russ and we noticed the blue tent up, and we simply type of assumed, like, all proper, I assume one thing occurred to Jaxson sooner or later,” guard Greg Van Roten stated. “And, you recognize, he was out. And that was it.”
Dart was changed within the recreation by Russell Wilson, who completed 3-of-7 passing for 45 yards and rushed twice for 12 yards. The Giants led 20-10 in the course of the fourth quarter however have been unable to carry off the Bears’ rally.
The Giants (2-8) drove down the sphere within the preliminary drive with Wilson earlier than stalling on the 1-yard line.
“Now we have to discover a technique to get a landing there,” Wilson stated.
The Giants went three-and-out on the following possession with Wilson at quarterback and stalled within the remaining minute with an opportunity to win the sport. It was their franchise-record eleventh straight street loss and their fourth loss when main by double digits this season. They’re additionally simply the second crew because the 1970 merger to lose a number of video games in a season after main by 10+ factors within the remaining 4 minutes of the fourth quarter, becoming a member of solely the 2004 Seahawks.
Daboll didn’t instantly reply a query afterward about whether or not Wilson would begin subsequent week in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers if Dart have been unable to play. The Giants even have veteran Jameis Winston on the roster.
Wilson stated he started to arrange to enter the sport after seeing Dart rise up slowly following the fumble.
“He made a terrific effort attempting to make a play. He did a very good job simply attempting to be robust and all that,” Wilson stated. “I used to be simply ready. You at all times must be able to go.”
Earlier than leaving, Dart was 19-of-29 passing for 242 yards and had 66 dashing yards on six carries with a pair of scores. He turned the primary rookie quarterback in NFL historical past to document a dashing landing in 5 straight video games.
However all of the hits have began so as to add up. Dart had been contacted the second-most of any quarterback since turning into the starter in Week 4, taking a median of virtually 13 hits per contest. Along with the traditional circulation of the sport, the Giants have referred to as a number of designed quarterback runs every of the previous few weeks. Dart, nonetheless, did slide on a number of events Sunday earlier than the concussion.
That is the fourth time Dart has been evaluated for a concussion this 12 months, together with the preseason.
“I would just say it is unlucky that he obtained damage,” Daboll stated in regards to the concept his quarterback was taking too many hits.
The Giants have talked for weeks about not wanting to remove Dart’s aggressiveness. It is part of what makes him efficient.
Dart was requested this previous week about balancing his need to win with taking part in good. It is one thing he is nonetheless engaged on.
“Possibly just a little bit. That is undoubtedly one thing that whenever you watch the tape again on, you strive to think about these moments the place it can save you your physique, successful or not,” he stated. “On the identical time, it is actually exhausting for me in these moments as a result of I simply need to compete. In the end, I simply need to rating.”
He later added: “I’ll play the sport the best way I need to play the sport.”
Dart has been an immediate sensation since taking up because the starter in Week 4. He has produced 17 whole touchdowns in his seven begins.
The Giants are 2-5 in these contests.
