Jaxson Dart promises to continue playing 'aggressively' despite taking huge hit in return from concussion

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants has been showing signs of real promise. While victories have been limited, Darts dual-threat skill set stands out. He is able to gain significant yardage with his legs whenever the pocket collapses, giving the Giants a potential path back to success.

Dart returned from a concussion on Monday night after missing two games. During his recovery, reports suggested the team encouraged him to protect himself while running, aiming to avoid unnecessary hits. However, the advice didnt stop Dart from playing boldly.

With roughly four minutes remaining in the first quarter, Dart attempted a second-and-13 scramble, running up the sideline to reach the first down. As he neared the line, he was leveled by New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss in a huge hit. Although it looked severe, broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman confirmed it was a legal tackle, as Dart had not given himself up and was considered a runner. Officials agreed, and no penalty was assessed on Elliss. Instead, Giants tight end Theo Johnson was penalized for confronting Elliss after the play.

Dart stayed in the game, completing 17 of 24 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, though the Giants fell 33-15 to the Patriots. Despite the hit, Dart emphasized his intention to maintain an aggressive style of play. He said, Im going to keep playing aggressive. Hopefully everyone can take a second to watch my tape going back to HS and realize that this is not a shock. I play the game aggressively.

He also noted that there were moments when he slid or avoided hits, showing some awareness of protecting his body, but concluded with, You're going to get hit. It's football. The incident highlighted the fine line between taking calculated risks and ensuring safety, especially for a quarterback recently recovering from a concussion. Dart avoided further injury but will likely need to balance aggression with prudence in future games.

Author: Sophia Brooks