New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart said he was left puzzled after undergoing his sixth concussion check in a year during a 13-10 preseason defeat to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon.
The second-year signal caller gave fans a scare under one month before the 2026 National Football League season gets underway. Dart remained lying on the turf at the end of the first quarter following a blitz by Vikings safety Jay Ward, which left him slow to get back to his feet.
Medical staff escorted Dart to the blue medical tent on the sideline for a concussion check. It marked his sixth evaluation for a potential head injury within twelve months, following five concussion checks during his rookie campaign.
NFL concussion protocol
Dart cleared the NFL concussion protocol to return to the field two plays later, but expressed frustration after the game about the frequency of his evaluations.
"As far as the blue tent, I really respect the rules and the thought behind the NFL has of keeping players healthy and reviewing things," Dart said, speaking to ESPN. "But at the same time, I'm still puzzled by it just feeling like every time that I get hit, I find my way in there, which, at times, I still try to wrap my head around."
During his rookie season last year, Dart was forced to sit out two games after being diagnosed with a concussion. The NFL established collapsible sideline medical tents to allow medical teams to evaluate players in privacy during games under strict head injury protocols.
Teammate reaction and performance
Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor defended his quarterback after the game, suggesting that playing in a major media market increases public attention on routine medical evaluations.
"If a normal QB takes that hit, I'm sure not much is going to be said about it," Eluemunor said. "But, you know, when we play in New York and it's Jaxson Dart, I'm assuming people are going to make it bigger than it actually is. I guess that is just the reality we live in right now. People are going to blow things up that don't really necessarily have to be blown up."
Before being pulled from the exhibition contest, Dart provided encouragement for head coach John Harbaugh and Giants supporters by completing a scoring drive.
Rolling to his left from the 15-yard line, Dart floated a pass into a crowded end zone where rookie third-round pick Malachi Fields managed to come down with the football for a touchdown.
Dart was pulled after completing 3 of 4 passes for 26 yards and one touchdown. The preseason opener marks the start of exhibition play before the regular season begins in September.
Presidential support and Super Bowl predictions
The Ole Miss product, a former standout at the University of Mississippi, has become a fan favorite among frustrated Giants supporters and drawn attention beyond football. President Donald Trump had Dart introduce him at a Fighting For American Workers rally event in May.
Asked by ESPN for his Super Bowl favorites heading into the season, President Trump highlighted several teams across the league. Trump said this week that "New England looks good" and the "LA Rams are looking very strong," while also including the Giants as contenders.
"I like their quarterback a lot," Trump added regarding Dart.
