With the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants firmly out of the playoff race, their battle in Week 16 turned into a showcase for the two first-time starting quarterbacks on both sides. Unfortunately, neither player had a great showing, as the Vikings led 13-10 at halftime.
Coming off the best game of his career, expectations were high for J.J. McCarthy, but he hadn’t blown anyone away in New York. However, it was a particularly rough outing for Jaxson Dart, who could not get it going through the air or on the ground.
What Happened to Jaxson Dart?
An incredibly promising start to his career has seen Dart bring excitement back to New York about their football team. However, a shaky injury history has already increased worry about what his future could look like in a physically demanding sport like the NFL.
As a result, the hope had to be that he could take care of himself over the final three weeks of the season while continuing to develop as the Giants shift their attention to the 2026 season.
However, the game against Minnesota was looking like a regression so far. Completing just one of his five passing attempts, he had thrown for a total of just two passing yards, while being sacked on three separate occasions.
Even on the ground, he wasn’t his typically explosive self, adding just seven yards on two carries as the Brian Flores defense did a number on him. Still, a forced fumble leading to a defensive touchdown kept the Giants in the game, with the score at 13-10 in favor of the Vikings.
Coming in at number 19 on PFSN’s QB Impact, he has been far better than most people assumed he could be in his rookie season. With 1,802 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in his first 11 career games, he has shown upside as a passer, even with the wide receiver corps in New York being ravaged by injuries.
His ability on the ground, though, is what truly makes him special. With an abandon bordering on reckless, he’s added 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground as well. However, that style has also made him susceptible to getting hit.
As a result, he’s suffered four concussions in his short career so far, which could reduce his long-term viability as the starting quarterback of a franchise.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
