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Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart cleared after damage scare

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart concluded his first preseason with another fine performance, capped by an injury scare.

After a 23-yard run on fourth down late in the first quarter of Thursday night’s 42-10 win against the New England Patriots, Dart tried to run over two defenders. He fumbled, and his head slammed into the ground. The officials stopped play and required him to leave the field.

Jameis Winston threw a 30-yard touchdown pass on the next play while Dart was examined.

Should Dart have slid?

“Got the wind knocked out of him. He’s good. Yeah, I would like him to slide on that,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said.

Dart was checked in the blue medical tent before emerging minutes later. He cleared the concussion protocol, but didn’t return to the game when the Giants got the ball back in the second quarter.

The rookie didn’t regret taking on the defenders. Moreso, that he fumbled.

“I just think it’s situation-based. I thought I could have made a bigger play on it,” Dart said. “I thought I could split him. I feel like if I just break a tackle, then I’m gone.”

The question is when Dart will take the field again. Russell Wilson is the Giants’ starter. Dart, a first-round draft pick this year, is waiting in the wings after a strong preseason. He went 32-of-47 passing (68.1%) for 372 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He also had six rushes for 52 yards with one touchdown in three games. He got better as the summer progressed.

Dart will have to keep refining his game and be ready.

“I feel like whenever my number is called, I’m going to go out there and play my game,” Dart said. “I’m going to ball. That is just my mindset any time I touch the field.”

It’s why the Giants drafted him 25th out of Ole Miss. It’s why the Giants have a special developmental plan for the player they envision as their quarterback of the future.

Dart reassured them that they made the right decision this preseason.

“I’m glad we got him,” Daboll said. “I’m glad he’s our guy.”

The Giants felt the need to reshape their quarterback group this offseason. They did so by drafting Dart and signing Wilson and Winston.

That left Tommy DeVito as the likely odd man odd. The New Jersey native, who burst onto the scene with three straight wins as an undrafted rookie, has had limited reps this summer and preseason as the fourth quarterback. His fate is in serious doubt as cut day approaches Tuesday.

In what was potentially his final game as a Giant, DeVito put it all on the line. He completed 15 of 17 attempts while throwing three touchdown passes on his initial three drives against the Patriots.

If this was his final moment with the Giants, it was some way to go out. DeVito was greeted with a nice ovation from the hometown fans who showed their appreciation for the performance and his time with the team.

“Means a lot,” DeVito said. “Like you said, the ovation, if I was in the stands, I would be cheering for anybody who was the hometown kid, too. It was appreciated.”

But the cheers were even louder when Dart led the Giants to a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. He hit wide receiver Gunner Olszewski for a 50-yard gain and then tight end Greg Dulcich for a 9-yard touchdown, much to the delight of the MetLife Stadium crowd.

Dart is their new favorite and for good reason, based on the preseason.

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