NFL announces it will review application of concussion protocol after Jaxson Dart hit

The NFL announced it has initiated a review of how New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was evaluated for a concussion after taking a hard hit in the third quarter of Thursday night’s 34-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The NFL’s review of the Giants’ application of concussion protocol will be conducted jointly with the NFLPA under the parties’ collective bargaining agreement, per Schefter.

Dart went down with 2:17 left in the third quarter after being sacked by Eagles linebacker Patrick Johnson and was treated on the field before being helped to the Giants’ medical tent, where he received further evaluation for several minutes. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson entered in Dart’s place and ran two plays before the Giants were forced to punt on fourth-and-9 from the Eagles’ 42-yard line.

The potential concern for the NFL is how quickly Dart returned to the field. After a Wilson incompletion on third-and-9, a visibly frustrated Brian Daboll was spotted yelling at one of the team’s medical professionals. Fellow Giants rookie Cam Skattebo, who scored three rushing touchdowns Thursday night, was then seen briefly entering the team medical tent with Dart still in there before being kicked out himself. Dart would emerge from the tent a short time later.

“An athletic trainer had to push him out very kindly and send him back to the sideline,” Prime Video sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung said of Skattebo. “Meanwhile, you’ve got the unaffiliated concussion specialist at the video monitor reviewing the footage of Jaxson’s hit. Jaxson, meanwhile, is inside the tent, peeking through the mesh windows trying to keep an eye on what’s going on in this game. I’m hearing a couple yells of encouragement to his teammates.”

Dart would return to the field for New York’s next offensive series and would finish out the game, in which he combined for 253 yards of total offense and two touchdowns vs. the Eagles. Dart threw for 195 yards on 17-of-25 passing and one score through the air and another on the ground in the decisive victory.

Two drives after returning to the game, Dart and Skattebo combined to lead the Giants to their final touchdown of the game, a 1-yard rushing score by Skattebo to put New York up 34-17 with 9:41 remaining in the game.

— On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this report.