NEW YORK — New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh lauded quarterback Jaxson Dart for sliding inbounds at the end of a third-down run during a drill Monday, marking a notable shift for the second-year signal-caller.
"I clapped. I applauded. I applauded when he did that. It was great," Harbaugh said following the practice.
It was the first time Dart had slid after a run in the Giants' first 11 practices of camp. The moment suggests Dart is modifying the aggressive running style that fueled his rookie success but raised durability concerns.
His prior approach led to five concussion checks last season. Dart rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns across 14 games, finishing among the top five quarterbacks in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns and carries inside the 5-yard line. He posted eight top-10 fantasy weeks despite playing the majority of snaps in only 12 games.
At a fan event in May, Dart said he would still run through defenders on third and fourth downs and near the red zone but would slide in less critical situations.
The Giants enter the season with a new coaching staff — Harbaugh as head coach and Matt Nagy as playcaller — and a reinforced supporting cast that includes a healthy Malik Nabers and additions Isaiah Likely and Darnell Mooney. That depth could reduce Dart's reliance on high-contact runs while preserving the rushing ability that makes him a legitimate QB1 threat.
