Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart eager to show what he can do in preseason opener
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart talks to reporters during training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday. Credit: Ed Murray
Any clues as to which Giants starters will play in their preseason opener at Buffalo will have to wait until close to kickoff Saturday.
Coach Brian Daboll said he’d make those decisions after Thursday’s practice. It was a light walk-through, so there were few hints besides the unofficial depth chart released earlier this week.
“We just do what we think is best for the team,” Daboll said. “Talk with the coaches, talk with the medical staff and then decide off the information that we get.”
It was a contrast with Bills coach Sean McDermott telling reporters that most starters will play “give or take one quarter.” Quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen won’t play, so Mitch Trubisky will start.
The only hint Daboll revealed was that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart will play, although he didn’t say for how long. The first-round pick is looking forward to it, especially with his family in attendance.
“I hope I can get every situation just to get those reps, be on that stage and do it at a high level,” Dart said. “But I’m just excited for this. This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.”
With three preseason games, how Daboll will divvy up the quarterback reps will be as intriguing as how they look.
Russell Wilson could use some action to develop more chemistry with his new teammates. He also is the starter, so any live reps this month will foreshadow what he’ll get starting in September. Dart, on the other hand, isn’t expected to have many chances for meaningful game reps.
The preseason will be the best opportunity to apply what he’s learned, pending any injury to Wilson or Jameis Winston. Not that Dart is concerned about that.
“I’m just focused on being prepared,” he said. “Obviously, I’m going to go out there on the field and compete at my highest level and I’m going to play as hard as I can.”
As for the Giants’ other first-round pick, linebacker Abdul Carter sees Saturday being his chance to develop his NFL pregame routine. He anticipated what it will be like to deliver his first real hit or perhaps get his first sack.
“That’s gonna be fun just playing in the preseason and taking guys to the ground, actually sack the quarterback,” Carter said. “So I look forward to that.”
He expects some rust, having not played a full game since the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 with Penn State.
Carter, Dart and the other rookies got some advice this week from several veterans. Wilson, Malik Nabers, Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence were among the players who spoke about their first preseason game. Dart said the message made it easier to focus on just playing instead of worrying about if mistakes happen.
“The main point was football is football,” he said. “Obviously, you’re taking a next step, so it’s a little bit more advanced and just little details and schematics and whatnot. At the end of the day, it’s the same game you were playing when you were a kid, so just enjoy that.”
Daboll sat most of his starters in the Giants’ previous two preseason openers, although those came after joint practices with the Lions. The Giants could change that this time, given that their joint practices with the Jets are next week.
However, those decisions won’t be known publicly until kickoff. Dart and Carter, however, spoke as if they are ready to play even if they get a limited number of snaps.
Carter stressed that he won’t hold anything back. He’s impressed in camp, showing his array of pass-rushing moves along with his speed to get around linemen. Now he’s eager to show it against an opposing offensive line.
“I’m putting it all on film,” Carter said. “I’m going out there, I’m playing, I’m doing what I do best. I’ll also do what my coaches ask me to do, but at the same time, just play my game.”
Notes & quotes: Nabers, Burns, Cor’Dale Flott, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Korie Black and Tre Hawkins III were not on the field for practice Thursday. Cam Skattebo, Darius Slayton and Evan Neal worked to the side with Giants training staff.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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