The New York Giants will wrap up their 2026 preseason Friday night without their starting quarterback. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Jaxson Dart is not expected to play against the Jets at MetLife Stadium, with Jameis Winston and Brandon Allen next in line.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game is the final exhibition for both New York teams before roster cuts Sunday and the regular-season opener.
Why the Giants Are Sitting Jaxson Dart
Dart, the 2025 first-round pick out of Ole Miss, is entering his second NFL season as the clear starter under new head coach John Harbaugh. The 23-year-old played two series in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, completing 3 of 4 passes for 26 yards and a touchdown to rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields. He also took a hard hit and was evaluated in the medical tent before returning.
He sat out the second preseason game, a 26-3 win over the Miami Dolphins, as several starters rested. Harbaugh has described the decision on Dart’s playing time as a balancing act. Extra live reps in a new offense would help, especially with Week 1 coming against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. At the same time, the risk of injury in a meaningless game outweighs the benefit for a young quarterback the franchise is building around.
Winston, the veteran backup, started against Miami and is expected to see significant action again. Brandon Allen provides additional depth.
What This Means for the Giants’ Offense
Dart has spent the summer learning a new system that features more under-center work and longer play calls than he used as a rookie. Training camp reports were mixed: he absorbed the information quickly but had uneven days throwing the ball. A strong joint practice against the Dolphins later in camp offered encouragement, with several chunk plays off play-action.
Sitting him tonight means the first-team offense gets one less chance to work together in a game setting before facing Dallas. Receivers such as Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, and Odell Beckham Jr. will have to wait until September to build more live chemistry with their quarterback. Tight end Isaiah Likely has been a favorite target in practice.
The decision also reflects Harbaugh’s cautious approach after Dart’s concussion evaluation in Week 1 of the preseason. Protection remains a talking point after a missed block contributed to that hit.
Giants vs. Jets Preseason: How to Watch
- Time: Friday, August 28, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (Jets home game)
- TV: WNBC / NBC 4 New York (Giants feed with Bob Papa, Carl Banks, and Phil Simms)
- Streaming: NFL+, Fubo, Giants app (in-market)
The Jets are also sitting starting quarterback Geno Smith. Their backups, including Cade Klubnik, will get the bulk of the snaps as both teams evaluate players on the roster bubble.
Looking Ahead to Week 1
The Giants open the regular season at home against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, Sept. 13. That prime-time environment is one reason some observers wanted Dart to play Friday: it would have given him another night game under the lights at MetLife.
Instead, Harbaugh is prioritizing health. Dart’s limited preseason workload (two series plus joint-practice work) is now complete. The next time he takes a snap that counts, it will be against Dallas.
Roster cuts are due by 6 p.m. Sunday. Tonight’s game will decide several spots among backups and bubble players, even if the starting quarterback watches from the sideline.
The report from Fowler is the latest indication that the Giants are treating Dart as a long-term piece rather than someone who needs extra preseason exposure. Whether that caution pays off will be measured in September, not August.