The New York Giants took a hit on Monday Night Football, and so did their quarterback, Jaxson Dart. In a moment that had analysts across the league holding their breath, Dart’s aggressive, risk-taking style was on full display.
The rookie has developed a reputation for being careless with his body, and a primetime showdown with the New England Patriots provided another jarring example of why that approach is so dangerous.
Why Are NFL Analysts Worried About Jaxson Dart’s Long-Term Health?
Late in the first quarter, Dart scrambled on a pass play for a 12-yard run. Instead of sliding or running out of bounds, however, he was smashed by Christian Elliss at the end of the play. While a scuffle broke out between the teams, officials ultimately ruled it a legal hit. The incident immediately drew sharp criticism from NFL experts, who all shared the same urgent message: Dart has to start protecting himself.
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe was blunt about the rookie’s future if he continues to play with such reckless abandon.
“At this rate Dart has about 2 more yrs in the NFL,” he tweeted. “You can not take those types of hits as player. Let alone a qb.”
Analyst Emmanuel Acho summed up the quarterback’s dilemma with a comical one-liner.
“Everybody wants to protect Jaxson Dart except for Jaxson Dart,” he wrote.
Ryan Clark, a player renowned for his physical hits, emphasized that the defense was simply doing its job, and the responsibility for safety ultimately falls on the quarterback.
“Bullsh*t by these Giants Offensive lineman!” Clark said. “Fight your dang Quarterback. He needs to get down or get out of bounds. He’s in bounds, and he has on pads! You need to hit him. That’s your job and it’s his to protect himself! Straight soft move!”
Other prominent voices echoed these concerns. Skip Bayless noted Dart’s repeated failure to avoid contact.
“Jaxson Dart just won’t learn to get down and get out of bounds,” he tweeted.
Additionally, ESPN’s Field Yates defended the hit, pointing out that the rookie could have easily avoided it.
“Nothing wrong with that hit on that play,” he wrote. “That’s the exact kind of play that the Giants need Jaxson Dart to protect himself at the cost of an extra yard or two.”
Finally, former safety Louis Riddick voiced his frustration directly to the young quarterback. “GTF out of bounds !!! What are you doing Jaxson ?!?!” he exclaimed on X.
Ultimately, Dart will have to adjust his playing style if he wants a long and successful career. While being a mobile quarterback in the Giants’ offense has clear advantages, the Monday night incident highlighted the significant questions about his role’s longevity.
