Giants’ Jaxson Dart remains defiant after another big hit: ‘We’re not playing soccer out here’

Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is now eight starts into his NFL career.

Obviously, going forward in 2026 and beyond, the Giants want him to be on the field for all 17 games every year. The playoffs would be nice, too.

But how much will his reckless-at-times style hinder that goal?

That question popped up again after Monday night’s pathetic 33-15 loss at the Patriots. No, Dart did not play poorly. Yes, he continued to flash signs of his significant potential.

But he also took another massive hit — in his first game back from a two-game concussion absence — while running out of bounds (and trying to get an extra yard) late in the first quarter.

After the game, Dart remained defiant. He didn’t apologize for that play — or, in the bigger picture, for his relentless approach.

While that intensity will no doubt be a valuable asset for him — if he indeed blossoms into a long-term legit NFL starter — he must do a better job of protecting himself. It’s really that simple.

Dart was asked, while addressing reporters in New England, if there was anything he would’ve done differently on this latest big hit play.

“No,” he said. “Look, I understand the question. But this is football. I’m going to get hit if I’m in the pocket or outside the pocket. I feel like I played this way my whole entire life. It shouldn’t be any shocker to anybody if you followed along with my career. We’re not playing soccer out here. You’re going to get hit. Things happen. It’s just part of the game.”

As for whether Monday’s early huge hit resulted in Dart feeling hesitant to run later in the game, he again offered an unflinching response.

“No,” he said. “It didn’t hurt, so that didn’t play any thought in my mind.”

Dart ran four times for 20 yards in the game. So it wasn’t a run-heavy night for him. Certainly not like the 10 and 13 rushes he had in two of his first three starts, during wins over the Chargers and Eagles. Of course, Dart is now 0-6 as a starter outside of those two games.

He unsurprisingly believes that taking aggressiveness away from his approach “absolutely” would detract from his production.

“I played like this my whole life,” he said. “Turn on my high school tape. Turn on my college tape. It’s not a shocker to anybody. It’s how I’ve played. I felt like if you just watch the game [Monday night], I did slide. I did avoid a lot of hits. You’re going to get hit. It’s football.”

Still, just because something worked for Dart in high school and college doesn’t mean it’s a sustainable long-term strategy in the NFL.

“My body feels good,” Dart said, continuing to push back. “I’m going to play aggressive. I feel like if I just turn into a complete pocket passer, that’s just not how I want to play the game. I feel like there’s an advantage to me using my legs.”

True. There is. But there’s also a smart way to do it.

“I’m going to keep playing aggressive,” Dart said, leaning on his talking point. “Hopefully, everybody can take a second to watch my tape going back to high school and realize that this is not a shock. I play the game aggressively.

“I appreciate people wanting me to be healthy and all that stuff. And I want to be healthy, too. I play this game aggressively. I’m not just going to change how I play the game.”

How will that defiance work out for him in the years to come, as the Giants hitch their hopes to his availability?

MORE GIANTS COVERAGE

• Giants’ Abdul Carter offers profane, two-word response to latest benching

• Even in Jaxson Dart’s return at Patriots, Joe Schoen’s Giants remain an embarrassment

• Giants’ Abdul Carter benched again: ‘Coach’s decision’ sidelines top pick in New England

• Giants vs. Patriots free live stream: How to watch Monday Night Football online

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