Jaxson Dart‘s first NFL start was a rollercoaster.
The Giants‘ rookie quarterback stormed into the end zone for a 15-yard rushing touchdown on his first drive as a pro, igniting a spirited start for the home team at MetLife Stadium.
But Dart was grabbing at his left hamstring and limping by late in the second quarter. He was announced as playing through a hamstring injury when he came back out to start the third.
And then he had to be pulled from the game, evaluated and cleared by an NFL concussion spotter early in the second half.
Dart got banged up while taking on defenders at the end of a 36-yard scramble that was called back due to a John Michael Schmitz holding penalty.
Russell Wilson’s one snap in place of Dart was an embarrassment. He turtled in the pocket, took a sack and fumbled, fortunately falling on it to preserve possession.
That provided a good reminder of why Daboll believed it was time to make the quarterback switch in the first place. But it also reinforced the unpredictability of Dart’s sudden presence in the lineup.
Sure enough, Dart fumbled a snap under center while backed up against the Giants’ goal line midway through the third quarter, falling on it to give the Giants a chance to punt. And the rest of the afternoon promised more fireworks.
It just wasn’t clear which kind.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
