The New York Giants are reportedly advising rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart to be much more cautious after suffering a concussion in a 24-20 Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears on the road.
The first-round pick out of Ole Miss was ruled out for Sunday’s home game against the Green Bay Packers and is aiming to return in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions.
When Dart returns, the Giants want him to modify his running style, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 22-year-old passer may not like that, but he could soon thank the team for doing so. He’ll quickly realize it’s a change he must make.
Why Jaxson Dart must alter his running style
Dart tends to lower his head and shoulder pads when running, rather than sliding. That helps him gain more yards, but it makes him more susceptible to brutal hits.
Per Schefter, since making his first start in Week 4, Dart has taken 84 hits combined between passing and rushing attempts, the second-highest mark in the NFL during this stretch. He has also been evaluated for a concussion four times.
Clearly, his playing style isn’t sustainable. To help him change it, Giants quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney is showing Dart clips of multiple QBs to help him discern between being aggressive and reckless.
Now, the Giants don’t want Dart — who has 17 touchdowns (10 passing and seven rushing) — to stop running or to play timidly. His athleticism and competitiveness are why he has emerged as one of the more promising young QBs in the league.
But if he continues to risk his body, he could miss more games, which would make it harder for the Giants to lure a top head-coaching candidate. After a 2-8 start, New York fired HC Brian Daboll and named offensive coordinator Mike Kafka the interim.
An intriguing QB in Dart may make New York one of the more attractive vacancies in the upcoming coaching cycle. However, top coaches may pass on the job if he can’t stay healthy.
Dart should realize those extra yards are nice, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of his health. He’s the future of the franchise and can’t continue to put his body on the line regularly.
