Giants coach apologizes for Dart concussion check; NFL investigating

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A near-nightmare situation for the New York Giants unfolded on MetLife Stadium’s much-maligned turf Thursday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, making his third professional start, stayed down after taking a sack from Eagles defensive lineman Patrick Johnson late in the third quarter and with the Giants leading 27-17.

Dart remained on the ground for a couple of minutes and banged his right leg onto the turf in frustration. He eventually hopped up and jogged off the field. Russell Wilson, New York’s starter for the first three games of the season, replaced him. 

It was later announced that Dart cleared a concussion evaluation, and would reenter the game on the Giants’ ensuing offensive possession. But not before some sideline hijinks involving head coach Brian Daboll and rookie running back Cam Skattebo, who ran over to the blue medical tent as Dart was undergoing tests.

Daboll apologized to the Giants’ team orthopedist, Dr. Scott A. Rodeo, who was standing near the medical tent and drew the head coach’s ire as Dart remained in the tent.

“If you’ve ever been on an NFL sideline there’s a lot of emotions,” Daboll said.

Daboll wanted Dart back on the field as he considered going for a fourth down and was asking how long it would take for Dart to be cleared since he would have burned a timeout ‘not at risk of anything else’ regarding his quarterback, he said.

USA TODAY Sports confirmed Friday that the league is looking into the matter. In a statement provided by an NFL spokesman, the league expressed the following: ‘The NFL initiated a review of the application of the concussion protocol involving New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart during last night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. That review will be conducted jointly with the NFLPA under the parties’ collective bargaining agreement.’

“I was in the wrong,” Daboll said Thursday.

It felt like an eternity inside the confines of the tent for Dart.  

“It felt so long,” Dart said. “I was just trying to get back on the field. I understand they have a protocol and whatnot but I was just trying to get out there fast.”

Skattebo joked that he was making sure Dart ‘wasn’t hurting anybody in the injury tent.’

“He’s a dog,’ Skattebo said of his fellow rookie. ‘He wants to be back on the field. I knew going over there, I needed to calm down a little bit, because I knew he was going to be on fire. 

“He was a little fired up.”

Dart was 16 of 22 for 187 passing yards and a touchdown throwing the ball and had seven carries for 51 yards and a score on the ground. 

Dart also exited his first start, a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, briefly while being evaluated for a concussion. 

This story has been updated with new information.