Giants not speculating about Jaxson Dart’s concussion severity after quick Week 11 decision

Instead of waiting until the last possible minute to see if Jaxson Dart advances through the NFL mandated concussion protocol, the Giants ruled out their rookie quarterback at the start of the practice week.

Why?

Is that a sign that his concussion is more significant than others and he could miss multiple games?

Or just an act of caution?

“I wouldn’t want to speak on what the severity of it is,” said interim head coach Mike Kafka, who was offensive coordinator under the since-fired Brian Daboll when Dart was injured last Sunday against the Bears. “He’s been around the building and around the guys, so it’s been cool to see him. Whatever the docs and our medical staff [say], whatever’s the best for him is what we’ll do.”

Jaxson Dart walks off the field during the Giants’ Week 10 loss to the Bears on Nov. 9, 2025. Getty Images

After his head hit the ground and his body went limp on a fumble, Dart stayed on the bench talking to quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney while the Bears drove for a field goal.

Dart went back in for two snaps before he was pulled in for a concussion test by the Giants — not the independent concussion spotters who missed the warning signs — between the third and fourth quarters.

“We had some time between the play when we were flipping fields and he just didn’t sound right, didn’t feel right,” Kafka said. “Out of respect for the kid and his health, we said, ‘We should probably just get him checked out and let the doctors decide.’

Jaxson Dart and Mike Kafka are pictured during the Giants’ Oct. 15 practice. Charles Wenzelberg

“That’s not easy to do — taking the quarterback out of the game. I thought it was really heads up by our staff and the coaches who saw it and identified it quickly — as fast as they could — and got it to the doctors, which I thought was important. Hats off to those guys for doing that the right way.”

The Giants were fined $250,000 (and Daboll fined $100,000) for interfering with the concussion protocol in Week 6.

None of the other three Giants who have had concussions this season played in the next game.

In 2021, Daniel Jones returned without missing a game after suffering a concussion and nearly falling over as he rose to his feet.

WR Isaiah Hodgins was signed to the 53-man roster off the Steelers practice squad in a move that fans have been calling for since late September when Malik Nabers was injured.

He has not played this season but had 56 catches for 593 yards and seven touchdowns over the previous three seasons for the Giants, so it should be a seamless assimilation back into Kafka’s playbook.

The Giants lost WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey — who was out of practice-squad elevations and not being signed to the 53-man roster — to the Broncos on Tuesday.

K Graham Gano (herniated disc) thought he could avoid a second stint on injured reserve in the past month and a fourth in three seasons.

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The Giants held out last week but made the inevitable move Tuesday.

“I know Graham, as a competitor, did not want that,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “His confidence going into this week was high.”

The job belongs to Younghoe Koo again this week.

LB Trace Ford was signed to the practice squad. … LB Neville Hewitt (foot) improved to limited participation in Thursday’s practice. … RT Jermaine Eluemunor (pec), LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (pec) and TE Thomas Fidone (foot) were added to an injury report that already is a mile long with previously existing injuries.