Giants issue Jaxson Dart injury update ahead of Lions test

The New York Giants will be without Jaxson Dart for this Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, despite the rookie quarterback’s return to practice this week.

Dart sustained a heavy hit during the Giants’ game against the Chicago Bears on November 9 and has been working through the league’s concussion protocol since. He missed last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers and remains in concussion protocol, Giants’ interim coach Mike Kafka confirmed on Friday.

“He’s just in the protocol. He’s working through that phasing of it,” Kafka said of Dart. “Based on the testing and the results, we’re declaring him out for this week.”

The 22-year-old had returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday, raising hope that he may be passed fit to play. However Dart is not yet considered ready, leaving Jameis Winston to make a second straight start for New York.

Dart has made an explosive start to his NFL career, bringing an aggressive rushing style to a offense that had stagnated in recent years. He has rushed for 317 yards and seven touchdowns this season, stats that have made him one of the league’s best running QBs.

However that style has consequences, with Dart taking a number of heavy hits this year. He has been evaluated for concussion four times with the Giants. In his absence last week the Giants suffered a 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, taking the team’s record to 2-9 on the season.

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