The Jameis Winston starting-quarterback era may be over for the New York Giants.
The Record reported rookie Jaxson Dart would return to practice for the Giants on Wednesday and had the potential to start in their road game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Dart, of course, was concussed in the Giants’ 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 10. He was on the sidelines in street clothes watching Winston complete 19 of 29 passes for 201 yards and rush for a touchdown in New York’s loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Winston was making his first appearance in a Giants uniform after he was elevated above Russell Wilson as the QB2 for the Green Bay game.
Jaxson Dart ‘Is Trending Toward’ Playing Sunday In Detroit
Dart sustained his concussion when he went face first into the turf at Soldier Field in the second half of New York’s loss in Chicago.
After a period of rest and ramping up as part of the return-to-play protocol, Dart’s return to practice indicates he is symptom free and has been throughout the ramp-up period.
According to Art Stapleton of The Record, if Dart gets through practice without any relapse of symptoms, he could be in line to meet with an independent neurological consultant by week’s end as the final stage before he gets cleared to play Sunday.
Dart, of course, has been in the concussion protocol four times in his rookie season and sustained his first brain injury against Chicago.
But when he has not been in the blue medical tent getting checked out, Dart has been one of the NFL’s most exciting rookies, since despite his 2-5 record, he has a 10-3 touchdown-to-interception rate, has completed 62.7 percent of his passes and rushed for the third-most yards of any Giants player (317).
Sitting Jaxson Dart Against The Lions Would Be A Smart Decision
Of course former coach Brian Daboll put Dart in harm’s way in an effort to save his job — which fortunately did not work.
But there are a number of factors that suggest keeping Dart from playing Sunday in Detroit would be in his, and the Giants’ best interest. Of course, No. 1 is the fact the Lions’ home, Ford Field, has artificial turf, which makes a head injury more likely — though Dart’s concussion did come on a grass field in Chicago.
But the Lions defense has been swarming of late too, which could leave the Giants quarterback in peril — especially if, as expected, the Giants are force to throw the ball due to a negative game script.
The Lions are sixth in the NFL in sacks (31), led by superstar Aidan Hutchinson’s 7.5. They have 59 QB hits in their 10 games and just held the Philadelphia Eagles offense to 16 points in a seven-point road loss Sunday night.
Sure, Dart must be chomping at the bit to get on the field, and the Giants and their fans surely want to see what he can do against one of the NFL’s best teams.
But Dart is expected to be the team’s franchise QB for the next decade, and he’s already shown signs of being so. There’s no reason to subject him to a second concussion in what has become a lost year already.
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