The New York Giants have a potential superstar on their hands in Jaxson Dart. They might be languishing among the bottom feeders without a permanent head coach right now, but fans are clinging to the hope that they have finally found a legitimate franchise presence under center.
It's still early days for Dart, but the initial signs are immensely encouraging.
He's provided a spark that galvanized a moribund franchise that was far too reliant on its defensive front seven to stay competitive. His poise, creativity, and escapability represent outstanding traits to build upon. And Brian Daboll's permanent successor needs to be fully on board with the former Ole Miss standout being the guy.
Unfortunately, Dart's momentum came to an abrupt halt after a concussion against the Chicago Bears. This isn't the first time his playing style has gotten him hurt this season, so there should be a few tweaks as he gains more experience. Jameis Winston has been a fun fill-in for the Giants, but this franchise will only go as far as the first-round pick takes them moving forward.
Giants confirm Jaxson Dart has cleared concussion protocol before Week 13
While families around the country were enjoying their Thanksgiving meals and watching some football, the Giants provided their fans with the update they've been craving. The team confirmed that Dart had cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and would have been listed as a full participant in practice if they hadn't had the day off.
Nothing has been confirmed one way or the other. However, all signs point to Dart's participation on Monday Night Football against the New England Patriots.
Some sections of the fan base are questioning whether the signal-caller should feature again amid another lost season. Still, the need to get him legitimate reps in the firing line far exceeds any potential concerns about Dart getting hurt again.
The more involvement Dart has the rest of the way, the better. His time on the sidelines should have also served as a wake-up call to make better decisions when assessing risk quickly on the field.
Winston provided some entertainment in Dart's absence, and he almost steered the Giants to a stunning victory over the Detroit Lions before another fourth-quarter collapse. Even so, he's experienced enough to know where the team's future lies, and he'll be more than happy to step aside and return to his mentorship role to help the rookie along the way.
Dart is back in business, and that makes the Giants more dangerous than most naysayers believe.