Giants HC Reveals Jaxson Dart Injury Status After Chargers Scare

One game with Jaxson Dart as the starting quarterback led to one win for the New York Giants, but victory wasn’t without cost, with the rookie signal-caller enduring a pair of injury scares.

Dart was evaluated for concussion and briefly hobbled by a hamstring problem during the 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. It was no surprise head coach Brian Daboll, the man who made the call to turn to Dart over veteran Russell Wilson, was quickly asked about the injury status of his first-year passer shortly after the game.

Daboll offered an emphatic answer, providing exactly the update Giants fans want to hear. He told reporters, “I know 6 is probably going to be sore, he gutted it out. Son’s a tough son of a you know what. He’s tough, I knew that,” per SNY.tv’s Giants Videos.

Those are just the words Dart’s teammates will welcome after they lost star wide receiver Malik Nabers to a potential torn ACL. Nabers’ absence will put more pressure on Dart to continue being aggressive and risking his own body in pursuit of big plays.

Jaxson Dart Risked It All for Giants Win

Dart had to risk it all for the Giants to upset the undefeated Chargers. He did so by rushing 10 times for 54 yards, including for his first NFL touchdown on this designed QB draw to open the scoring.

Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka were content to lean into Dart’s threat as a runner, but it proved a risky strategy more than once against a rugged Chargers defense. Dart was willing to run, and his bravado won over the doubters, during a tough, but memorable first start.

Especially once he returned to the field after visibly clutching at his hamstring, a nervy moment, highlighted by Giants Nation Show.

Dart’s dodgy hammy wasn’t the only cause for concern. The 25th pick in the 2025 NFL draft also had to go through the concussion protocol, when he was sent for evaluation after taking a whack to the dome after yet another run.

Unfortunately, the bruising gain was wiped out by a holding penalty, before the deposed Wilson got back onto the field briefly, per Rate the Refs.

Dart soon “cleared protocol,” according to Giants.com Managing Editor Dan Salomone, and the sense of relief at MetLife Stadium was palpable when the 22-year-old returned. He’d proved his toughness, but injury scares should serve as a warning to Daboll and the Giants after Dart took too much punishment.

Giants Must Give Jaxson Dart Better Protection

When he wasn’t taking hits in the open field as a runner, Dart was being worked over in the pocket. He absorbed five sacks and nine hits to mark a tough welcome to competitive action in the pros.

Dart’s ability to bounce back from a beating earned the respect of senior Giants players, including Dexter Lawrence II. The All-Pro nose tackle applauded Dart as “tough. He took some hits, but got back up and made the plays we needed to help us win. And that’s what matters most,” per SNY’tv’s Giants Videos.

Dart showing his team he’s a fighter can only be a good thing for the Giants, but Daboll won’t want to see a repeat of those sack and pressure numbers. Not when he’s pinned the hopes of not only this season, but also his own immediate job security, on Dart’s throwing arm and active legs.

Commanders Called Out for ‘Pedestrian’ QB Play in Loss to Falcons

It’s never been in the cards for the Washington Commanders to win, long term, with superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels on the sideline.

The key, with Daniels out, is to just keep their heads above water. It’s something that’s not totally clear the Commanders can do moving forward after Daniels sat for a second consecutive game in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.

In a 34-27 road loss, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota looked more like the player he’d been in stints with the Tennessee Titans and Falcons as a full time starter. Which wasn’t very good.

“The Commanders lack explosion minus quarterback Jayden Daniels and injured receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote on September 28. “The result was backup quarterback Marcus Mariota’s most pedestrian outing since signing with Washington ahead of last season. He threw for 156 yards and had one ill-advised deep ball picked off, but did manage a total of two touchdowns. Had Washington’s defense helped Sunday, that might have been good enough. There is hope that Daniels will return for Week 5, but it remains to be seen if McLaurin and Brown will do the same.”

Marcus Mariota’s first interception in 83 pass attempts as a Commander is a costly one.

Not sure if he thought the flag was on the defense? Treated this like a free play. Lane actually gets free behind his guy but Mariota way overthrows him into the deep safety help. pic.twitter.com/KK9P1YplGX

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) September 28, 2025

The Commanders go back on the road in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Daniels Out Since Sprained Knee in Week 2

Daniels has been out since MRI tests revealed he suffered a sprained PCL in a 27-18 Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Mariota is in his second season as Daniels’ backup and signed a 1-year, $8 million contract on March 12 after playing on a 1-year, $6 million contract in 2024. He won his first start this season — against another of his old teams — with a 41-21 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.

Mariota filled in for Daniels in 2024 after he injured his ribs in the first quarter of a 40-7 Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers. Mariota looked sharp that day, going 18-of-23 passing for 205 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 11 carries for 34 yards. He also saw extended action in the regular season finale, going 15-of-19 passing for 161 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 5 carries for 56 yards and 1 touchdown in a 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

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Daniels Made NFL History as Rookie

The Commanders bet their future on Daniels when they selected the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Daniels was more than up to the task.

After Daniels beat out Mariota for the starting job early in training camp, Daniels reeled off one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history as he led the Commanders to a 12-5 regular season record and into the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. He also set the NFL rookie rushing record with 891 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Daniels was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowler and set the Commanders up as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2025 — something they haven’t looked like on either side of the ball through 4 games.

“Jayden Daniels wouldn’t have changed much (against Falcons,” Commanders fan account Commanders Gang wrote on X on September 28. “The defense is the reason we’ll be lucky to win 10 games this season.”

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