Dart shines in solid preseason debut

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart shows poise and production behind Russell Wilson in the Giants' preseason opener.

Dart shines in solid preseason debut

Jaxson Dart entered after the opening drive and finished the first half at quarterback for the Giants in Saturday’s preseason opener. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a 28-yard touchdown to Lil’Jordan Humprey, while adding 24 rushing yards on three carries. New York scored on three of his four drives.

Despite being listed third on the depth chart, Dart appears to be the next man up behind Wilson. The test now is whether he can sustain progress through the rest of the preseason and push for a larger role. Coach Brian Daboll praised the performance, saying it was efficient and aggressive in the pocket, with room to improve.

Jameis Winston handled the third quarter and Tommy DeVito played the fourth. The biggest question remains when Dart will become the starter. Based on Saturday, he’s on track to get there this season.

Dart’s showing matters because it suggests a possible path for managing the quarterback workload while developing a future starter. The numbers indicate comfort and accuracy, but the sample is brief and against limited competition. The Giants will want to see consistency, deeper route concepts, and better adjustments at the line of scrimmage before declaring a timetable.

If the rookie can maintain a steady rhythm and show command of the offense, Daboll could ease the climb toward a larger role. But preseason results rarely translate directly to the regular season. The team must balance development with winning now and keep expectations grounded as the plan evolves from a two-player approach to a longer term decision.

Highlights

Time will tell how quickly the rookie climbs the depth chart.