Giants' Jaxson Dart will miss Sunday's game against Lions
Jaxson Dart of the Giants walks off the field after a game at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 2. Credit: Jim McIsaac
All week, signs seemed to point to Jaxson Dart returning to action for the Giants when they visit the Lions on Sunday.
But on Friday, interim coach Mike Kafka said the rookie quarterback has not yet cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and will miss his second consecutive game.
Jameis Winston again will start in Dart’s place, with Russell Wilson backing him up.
Dart was present for the portion of practice reporters were allowed to watch on Friday, doing warm-up exercises, and later was listed as having participated on a limited basis.
“Jaxson looked like his normal self,” Kafka said when asked if he noticed anything amiss during the week. “He looked great.”
Kafka did not offer details about what doctors saw in Dart that caused them not to clear him or about whether the quarterback had suffered any setbacks.
Dart suffered the concussion late in the third quarter of a Nov. 9 loss at Chicago when his head hit the ground on a running play on which he fumbled.
“The doctors handle the protocol,” Kafka said. “I have nothing to do with that, and where he’s at, that all goes through the doctors, the independent doctor as well, so they make those determinations.”
Asked if he was surprised by the decision, Kafka said: “My only concern was making sure Jaxson was healthy and right. We have a lot of trust in the doctors. We have a lot of trust in the process.”
Kafka said he suffered a couple of concussions during his playing career as a quarterback “and you just want to feel comfortable and good. I think having that trust and understanding that everyone is looking out for your best interests is important.”
The coach said he has “full confidence” in Winston, who started last Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Packers.
“He’s a pro,” Kafka said. “He’s a true pro the way he prepares.”
Winston said after practice that he always prepares as if he is going to start and thus did not have to do anything different this week.
“Stand ready so you don’t have to get ready,” Winston said. “Whatever is required for me to be ready, I’m ready for.”
It was unclear how the split of reps between Dart and Winston went this week, other than the fact that both got first-team turns. Winston said he got snaps with the first team on Friday in the red zone.
Winston said he looked forward to having receiver Darius Slayton back from a hamstring injury. Slayton is not listed on the game status report, so he should be in.
“These guys are excited,” Winston said. “What we’re searching for is our first road win, and we’re searching for our first win in a very long time. So our attention is focused on that, not on who’s playing or who’s getting reps.”
Notes & quotes: Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) and CB Paulson Adebo (knee) are out.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
