Jaxson Dart Returns from Concussion: Giants vs. Patriots MNF Preview and What It Means for New York’s Franchise QB Future

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart steps back into the spotlight tonight as he returns from a concussion for Monday Night Football against the New England Patriots, a pivotal moment both for his rookie season and a struggling Giants franchise. At 2–10, New York has dropped six straight and sits at the bottom of the NFC East, but the team is turning again to the former Ole Miss star in hopes his playmaking can jolt an anemic offense.

Dart cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol late last week after being knocked out of the Giants’ Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears, his fourth in-season concussion evaluation in just eight games. Coaches and teammates have spent the run-up to tonight’s game emphasizing one theme: the young passer must protect himself better. Inside the building, there’s real concern that his aggressive, run-heavy style—once a feature of Brian Daboll’s offense—has become a liability that could shorten his career.

Interim head coach Mike Kafka, now guiding the team after Daboll’s firing, is expected to pare back the number of designed quarterback runs against New England, a dramatic shift given how much of the Giants’ scoring has flowed through Dart’s legs. Before the injury, he completed more than 62 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns through the air while adding seven more on the ground, making him one of the NFL’s most productive rushing quarterbacks despite New York’s dismal record.

Dart himself has acknowledged that the concussion scare forced a reckoning with his approach. The rookie has said he needs to “be more available” to the team, echoing what veterans in the locker room have been telling him for weeks: slide, avoid unnecessary contact, and save the big hits for critical moments. Teammates joke that they yell “Slide!” in practice whenever he tucks the ball, a chorus that’s taken on new urgency with his return.

Off the field, Dart’s profile continues to grow. As one of the few bright spots in the Giants’ season, he has used his platform to spotlight causes close to home. Through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, he chose to support the Utah Parent Center, honoring families of children with special needs and tying his professional rise back to his roots in Kaysville, Utah.

For Honyve readers, tonight’s matchup isn’t just another prime-time game—it’s an early test of whether Jaxson Dart can evolve from fearless runner to sustainable franchise quarterback. How he balances risk and self-preservation against the Patriots may define the rest of his rookie year—and perhaps the Giants’ long-term future under center.