Jordan RaananNov 9, 2025, 03:56 PM ETCloseJordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.Follow on X
Bears corral Jaxson Dart’s fumble to get the ball back (0:21)Jaxson Dart loses control of the ball, and Nahshon Wright is on hand to recover the fumble for the Bears. (0:21)
CHICAGO — New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a concussion in the second half of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Dart took a hard hit on a fumble in the third quarter, getting hit from the side as he ran by a defensive lineman tracking back to make the play. His head hit the ground, and he got up slowly, eventually walking to the sideline after remaining on the field for a few seconds on his knees.
Dart returned to the game the following drive for two plays and then went to the blue medical tent in between quarters. He walked slowly into the locker room afterward with a trainer.
The Giants realized something was wrong between quarters. Dart went to the blue medical tent, and his helmet was eventually taken out and placed on the side.
“So, with Dart it was going back out on the field, just didn’t seem right. So called the trainers over and said, ‘Let’s get him out and make sure he gets looked at,'” Daboll said. “So, he went in and got looked at, evaluated for concussion.”
His teammates didn’t notice anything in the huddle. They didn’t realize Dart was potentially leaving the game until Wilson began taking snaps on the sideline with backup center Austin Schlottmann.
“I don’t remember what the stoppage was. But Austin went over to take snaps over with Russ and we saw the blue tent up, and we just kind of assumed, like, all right, I guess something happened to Jaxson at some point,” guard Greg Van Roten said. “And, you know, he was out. And that was it.”
Dart was replaced in the game by Russell Wilson, who finished 3-of-7 passing for 45 yards and rushed twice for 12 yards. The Giants led 20-10 during the fourth quarter but were unable to hold off the Bears’ rally.
The Giants (2-8) drove down the field in the initial drive with Wilson before stalling at the 1-yard line.
The Giants went three-and-out on the ensuing possession with Wilson at quarterback and stalled in the final minute with a chance to win the game. It was their franchise-record 11th straight road loss and their fourth loss when leading by double digits this season. They are also just the second team since the 1970 merger to lose multiple games in a season after leading by 10+ points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, joining only the 2004 Seahawks.
Wilson said he began to prepare to enter the game after seeing Dart get up slowly following the fumble.
“He made a great effort trying to make a play. He did a good job just trying to be tough and all that,” Wilson said. “I was just prepared. You always have to be ready to go.”
Before leaving, Dart was 19-of-29 passing for 242 yards and had 66 rushing yards on six carries with a pair of scores. He became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in five straight games.
This is the fourth time Dart has been evaluated for a concussion this year, including the preseason.
“Maybe a little bit. That’s definitely something that when you watch the tape back on, you try to think of those moments where you can save your body, a hit or not,” he said. “At the same time, it’s really hard for me in those moments because I just want to compete. Ultimately, I just want to score.”
Dart has been an instant sensation since taking over as the starter in Week 4. He has produced 17 total touchdowns in his seven starts.
Bears corral Jaxson Dart’s fumble to get the ball back (0:21)Jaxson Dart loses control of the ball, and Nahshon Wright is on hand to recover the fumble for the Bears. (0:21)
Jaxson Dart loses control of the ball, and Nahshon Wright is on hand to recover the fumble for the Bears. (0:21)
CloseJordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.Follow on X
The first-round pick was ruled out later in the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, it’s unfortunate,” coach Brian Daboll said. “Unfortunately, he got hurt.”
Daboll later added “somebody said something” on the sideline that indicated that Dart wasn’t right.
“We have to find a way to get a touchdown there,” Wilson said.
He later added: “I’m going to play the game the way I want to play the game.”