“Feisty end to practice as Jaxson Dart scrambled for a touchdown and flipped the ball in the face of corner Greg Newsome,” Dan Duggan of The Athletic reported on X. “[Defensive] players objected to QB scrambles since they can’t get hit.“

A little trash talk and a few taunts never hurt an NFL team during training camp. For the Giants, it’s no different. At the end of the day, these are competitive athletes fighting for a spot on the roster and their future in the league.

Some coaches may even tolerate punches being thrown, as it can be an indication of the competitive nature of practice. Still, Dart may have to tread lightly, especially since he isn’t on equal footing with his teammates on the defensive side of the ball. While Harbaugh expressed calm over Dart and the offense’s struggles, this may be something to keep an eye on.

Dart is untouchable in training camp

Because an injury to a quarterback can derail even the biggest contender’s season, defenses aren’t allowed to sack quarterbacks or hit them during practices. For Dart, that’s no different. Thus, Dart taunting his teammates wasn’t exactly a good look for the sophomore signal-caller.

As reported by Duggan, defensive players are against quarterbacks scrambling in practice because they can’t tackle them. The fact that Dart was aware of this advantage and still mocked Newsome after his touchdown could potentially snowball into a bigger dispute within the locker room.

Dart has had some run-ins with teammates before, including the politics controversy with Abdul Carter during the offseason. This may turn out to be a non-issue, just as it could become a problem in the future. Either way, it should come to the coaching staff’s attention—just in case.

Art Stapleton of USA Today stated that the QB and the TE are absolutely hitting it off. “The connection between Jaxson Dart and Isaiah Likely is obvious. I think Wan’Dale Robinson last year was the safety net. I think Isaiah Likely is the guy he’s going to go to. Probably will lead the team in targets this year.”

Leading the targets on a team with Malik Nabers might be a concerning sign of the WRs on the Giants. However, it was still a highly-revamped WR room. Likely is a top-tier tight end and Dart seems comfortable looking for him.

Likely needs a bounceback season

Last season, Theo Johnson was a good tight end for the Giants but Likely is really talented. However, he needs a bounceback season. In 2025, he played 14 games, started just seven and marked career-lows in targets, catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns.

Having said that, he shared targets and snaps with Mark Andrews. In this case, he is very much a better tight end than Theo Johnson, though Johnson is very serviceable. Likely could have a big season.

Dart needs safety blankets

Dart had a great rookie season, but he is in need of avoiding a sophomore slump. Having a short-yardage, safe blanket like Likely will clearly help him avoid mistakes or throwing caution to the wind.

According to Connor Hughes of SNY, Braxton Berrios is making “play after play after play” so far in the Giants training camp working as the second-team slot WR. Hence, he could be earning more and more snaps. By the way, Malik Nabers already ramped up the workload, so all news are good for the Giants right now.

Berrios has always been a respected player in the NFL. In fact, some might say he has been perennially underrated. Berrios has just 1,360 career-yards in seven years, but he’s developed a clutch reputation in the NFL.

Berrios is more than just a receiver

Braxton Berrios has an All-Pro to his name though it’s not because of his input as a wide receiver. In fact, it’s because there’s more to his game than just receiving. Berrios is an elite returner.

Whether it’s returning kicks or punts, Berrios has a danger factor to him every time he lines up as a returner. The Giants have a weapon on special teams as well with Berrios on the roster.

NY Giants WR room is underrated

The New York Giants have revamped their offense with veterans that could still provide one last dance. They will pair that with talented prospects, so there’s a nice balance.

Young prospects:

• Malik Nabers
• Malachi Fields
• Jalin Hyatt

Veterans with something left in the tank:

• Darnell Mooney
• Calvin Austin III
• Darius Slayton
• JuJu Smith-Schuster
• Braxton Berrios
• Odell Beckham Jr.

“I’ve just seen [Dart] be that leader that we need. That person in the locker room that gets everybody going, and picking guys up. He’s picked me up through this process also,” Nabers admitted to reporters after Day 2 of training camp. “He can read people really well, he reads me. I have great talks to him. [Jaxson] is always pushing me to be better, pushing me to get me back to where I once was. We can be great together.”

In his dialogue with reporters, Nabers shined the light on how challenging his journey has been as he recovered from a torn ACL and meniscus. Nabers admitted Dart has played a big role in helping him get through the daily grind.

As the 2026 NFL season looms on the horizon, and the Giants already ramp up Nabers’ workload, the wideout made it clear he wasn’t alone through it all, and his quarterback was very important. However, Dart wasn’t the only teammate Nabers had great praise for.

Nabers on Odell

Although the Giants have reportedly made Odell Beckham Jr. no guarantees about a roster spot, the iconic wide receiver is arguably the biggest offseason signing the franchise made this year—and in a while. As the 33-year-old settles into a very different locker room from the one he knew during his first stint in New York, Nabers had nothing but praise for Beckham Jr.

“[Beckham Jr] is a great role model and leader. He’s always feeding me good energy. It’s good having him around. It is surreal. I’m just taking every moment in,” Nabers said on being teammates with Beckham Jr.

Nabers and Beckham Jr are alike

There are many similarities between Nabers and Beckham Jr., and not just because both arrived in New York fresh off incredible college careers at LSU—prompting fans to compare Malik to Odell long before OBJ returned to East Rutherford.

As Nabers pointed out, Beckham Jr. suffered a similar injury in the NFL, so the veteran has been counseling the third-year wide receiver during their first weeks together. There’s a lot Nabers can learn from Beckham Jr., and vice versa, which leaves the Giants in a great position.

If the two wide receivers can feed off each other while helping the rest of the WR group and the team—and if Dart is in sync with them as well—then the sky is the limit for Big Blue.

“Practice ended a bit ago, but Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers getting in some time having a catch. No routes. Just QB throwing to WR,” Connor Hughes of SNY reported on his X account.

It may not sound like much, but it’s a really encouraging sign for the Giants. New York is heading into the 2026 NFL season with sky-high expectations for its star quarterback and wide receiver duo. While the Giants took a chance with Dart’s new weapon, tight end Tyler Moore, it’s clear the wideout from LSU is still the top receiving threat in East Rutherford.

Nabers and Dart’s only game together

As talented as both players are, and despite everything that’s been said about New York’s star duo, Dart and Nabers have barely played together. In fact, they have shared the field only once, and that came in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season.

In the same game in which Dart led the Giants to a statement win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Nabers suffered the season-ending injury that cut his campaign short. In that game, Dart connected with Nabers just twice for a total of 20 yards. Dart trusts Nabers, and fans need look no further than the fact that the first three pass attempts of Dart’s NFL career were all intended for Nabers.

Clearly, their sample size remains too small. Every extra rep and minute counts, and the two SEC products know that getting to know each other better, both on and off the field, may prove crucial once the season begins.

Nabers’ health concerns

As things stand, Nabers is on track to start in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. If that’s the case, both Nabers and Dart want to make sure their chemistry is off the charts by Sept. 13.

Still, the coaching and medical staffs are taking things slowly and with caution. In Nabers’ first full practice since tearing his ACL and meniscus in his right knee, Hughes reported that the wide receiver looked good, although still “a bit timid,” likely lacking some confidence in just how much force and speed to put on his right leg.

It has been a very long journey since the season-ending injury, so that was a likely scenario. There is still a long way to go before the season begins, which means there’s plenty of time left in the hourglass for Nabers to get more comfortable with his surgically repaired knee, as well as continue building chemistry with his franchise quarterback.

Giants insider Dan Duggan of The Athletic mentioned the veteran running back as a potential addition for the G-Men if he is able to regain his physical form in the short term.

“This is a sneaky position to watch for an addition before the opener. Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy are fine, but we know the Giants were open to upgrading to a premier back (Jeremiyah Love). There aren’t any of those available now, but I could see a vet signing (Najee Harris once healthy?) or a trade,” Duggan wrote on X.

In his latest stint with the Los Angeles Chargers, Harris missed almost the entire season with the Bolts due to a severe injury suffered in Week 3. Could he join a contender like the Giants ahead of what’s to come?

Dart’s ground options in NY

Heading into the 2026 NFL season, sophomore quarterback Jaxson Dart will feature a potent backfield tandem to anchor the team’s ground attack. Leading the group as RB1 is Cam Skattebo, returning fully healthy to bring a physical, hard-nosed running style that fits seamlessly into Greg Roman’s new power-run scheme.

Complementing Skattebo as the primary secondary weapon is Tyrone Tracy Jr., whose versatility and agility provide a dynamic change of pace to keep opposing defenses off balance and alleviate pressure on Dart throughout the campaign.

• Cam Skattebo
• Tyron Tracy Jr.
• Devin Singletary
• Eric Gray
• Dante Miller
• Damon Bankston

Can Harris regain his form?

During the Chargers’ Week 3 win over the Denver Broncos in 2025, Najee Harris suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon on a non-contact play during the second quarter. After planting his leg in the backfield, Harris collapsed to the turf and was carted off to the locker room, abruptly ending his first year in Los Angeles after signing a one-year deal with the franchise.

Prior to his injury, Harris was one of the most durable running backs in the NFL, never missing a game during his four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Moore is an undrafted free agent who had a tryout for the Panthers in the spring. Now, he gets a new home in Jersey. Moore played for Iowa State during his college days.

Now, Jaxson Dart could potentially have a rising weapon in Moore. Dart, who was a contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year, could very well use a new tight end in both the receiving and blocking department.

Tyler Moore’s 2025 college stats

Moore played 12 games for Iowa State in 2025 and he was used way more as a blocking TE rather than a receiving one. Moore had seven catches for 118 yards with no touchdowns.

Hence, it’s unlikely that Moore will become one of Dart’s favorite targets. In fact, Moore’s first challenge is to stay on the roster, then get snaps, then do well, and then evolve into an actual weapon.

NY Giants TE depth chart

The Giants have now bolstered their tight end depth chart quite a lot compared to last year’s. The NFL has transformed tight ends into key additions on a roster. Hence, this is what their TE room looks like:

• Isaiah Likely
• Theo Johnson
• Chris Manhertz
• Thomas Fidone II
• Tanner Conner

“He really cares about football,” the HC said in a recent interview with Giants radio broadcasters Bob Papa and Carl Banks. “So, for him to be this young, have that kind of mindset. I don’t know if it surprises me because I think that the guys that have a chance to be great, I feel like the Bradys of the world, the Mannings of the world, you know, they, they were always like that probably from the beginning.

“I don’t think they had to learn that. They kind of had it probably maybe from high school on. And I kind of see that in Jaxson Dart. Now we’ll see what he does with it. You know, we’ll see, you know, we’ll see, like all of us, we’ll see how good we are. We’ll find out.”

It is clear that Dart is still taking his first steps in the league and has a long road ahead of him, but he has the potential to become one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. Additionally, the way Harbaugh views his quarterback is already creating excitement throughout East Rutherford.

The mindset that impressed Harbaugh

Dart had a solid rookie season statistically, highlighted by an aggressive style of play that often led him into unnecessary collisions with opponents. Harbaugh, while not surprised but certainly impressed, believes that mindset can take him and the team a long way.

“I don’t know about surprised, probably just impressed, probably more than anything. I do think he’s obsessed. I believe that he really, really wants to be good. He’s kind of got the it factor from a leadership standpoint because he’s respected by the guys,” Harbaugh said.

“I mean, they just know how hard he works, and they know how much he cares, and they respect his talent, of course. He’s got a little juice, you know, he’s got some charisma.”

Brady and Manning’s first year in the NFL

In 1998, Peyton Manning was the No. 1 overall pick for the Indianapolis Colts, starting all 16 games and putting up a prolific yet erratic rookie campaign with 3,739 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and a league-high 28 interceptions, setting rookie records at the time for yards, completions, and touchdown passes.

By contrast, Tom Brady’s 2000 debut with the New England Patriots was almost invisible; buried as the fourth-string quarterback after being drafted 199th overall, Brady appeared in just one game during his rookie season, completing 1 of 3 passes for 6 yards.

Dart’s NFL debut season

Taken over as the New York Giants starter in Week 4 after being selected 25th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jaxson Dart delivered a promising and fiery rookie campaign. Over 14 games (12 starts), the former Ole Miss signal-caller threw for 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, finishing with a solid 57.5 QBR. Known for his aggressive playstyle and mobility, Dart also made a massive impact on the ground by rushing for 487 yards and 9 touchdowns, flashing franchise-QB potential despite the usual rookie growing pains.

“We all want to win, and we have every single piece you can need,” Eluemunor said via TMZ Sports. “We have an elite left tackle [Andrew Thomas]. We have an up-and-coming quarterback who I think can be the best quarterback in the NFL.”

The spotlight on Dart will be much bigger, as following his rookie season, expectations are that his stats will improve significantly based on what he showed during his first year. Not only that, but he now has John Harbaugh as a coach, someone who can take his game to the highest level.

The right tackle also added: “Any head coach in the NFL would want a team with this much young talent and especially the most important position at quarterback Dart. Dart’s a fricking amazing player. I think he’s going to be crazy this year.”

How did Jaxson Dart perform in his rookie season?

During his rookie season, Jaxson Dart stepped up as the starting quarterback for the New York Giants in Week 4 following Russell Wilson’s early struggles. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, the young signal-caller flashed dynamic potential, completing his first year with 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and a 57.5 QBR.

While his aggressive, physical style of play helped extend drives and create explosive plays, it also exposed him to heavy contact and heightened injury risks. Moving forward, Dart’s primary area for growth will be learning to protect himself—avoiding unnecessary collisions and sliding in open field to preserve his body and prevent concussions.

Giants set to begin training camp

The 2026 New York Giants Training Camp will be hosted at the Sports Performance Center at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Rookies are scheduled to report on July 23rd, followed by veterans on July 28th.

Fans will have limited opportunities to catch the action in person, as practices on July 30th, July 31st, August 1st, August 5th, August 6th, and August 7th will be open to public viewing. All other training camp practices will remain closed to the public.

Eluemunor seeks another breakout season in New York

The veteran offensive tackle had an outstanding season with the Giants, allowing just 4 sacks and 3 hits on his QB in his 16 starts. Eluemunor knows they have a great diamond in the rough in Dart and, while he will look to maintain and improve his own stats, he also knows that with this quarterback they can achieve great things.

“He’s done a great job of taking that next step into that leadership role as such a young guy,” Eluemunor said. “And, you know, he’s got the team around him. Now everyone believes in him.”

The Giants are in a new era with Dart expected to become the face of the franchise. As a result, every endorsement from respected veterans carries weight, especially when it comes from a player who has spent more than a decade in the NFL.

“He’s very good. I watched him last year. He likes to have fun. He enjoys the game of football and that’s something great to see from a young quarterback. He’s got a great arm on him. He’s got a lot of swag.”

Odell Beckham Jr. jokes about his connection with Jaxson Dart

Although Beckham praised Dart’s talent and personality, he admitted that their relationship is still in its early stages. The veteran wide receiver even joked that most of their connection comes from their college football backgrounds.

Beckham starred at LSU before becoming an NFL star, while Dart made his name at Ole Miss. That history led to a humorous response when Beckham was asked about his bond with the Giants quarterback. “The only connection we really have is LSU used to beat the hell out of Ole Miss. So, that’s about it.”

The lighthearted comment reflects what appears to be a positive dynamic between the veteran receiver and the young quarterback. As the Giants continue preparing for the 2026 season, Beckham’s praise will only add to the excitement surrounding Dart and the organization’s hopes that he can become the franchise quarterback they’ve been searching for.

Donald Trump commented on the situation on his own social media, Truth Social. “Thank you Jaxson! I know you’re taking some heat from the Radical Left Lunatics who are jealous of you, me, and everyone who surrounds us but, I also know that your Jersey also went to Number One, and you’re making Millions of Dollars so, YOU ARE A WINNER — THEY ARE ALL LOSERS. I’ll see you in the White House!”

Dart explained why he introduced Trump in the rally, but also hoped to be able to put this episode behind him for the betterment of the team.

Dart is focused on being a better QB for the NY Giants

It’s been reported that Dart, who had a stellar rookie season, is focused on getting even better, especially while scrambling and taking care of himself. In fact, it’s been reported that the Giants are forcing Dart to work on that area, blowing the whistle when he goes out of the pocket.

Dart was great in his first year, but he took way too many damage. He suffered concussions and the Giants are wary of him keep getting hit. Hence, John Harbaugh and the new staff are trying to make him mature a bit.

Dart has another obstacle to avoid

The NY Giants want Dart to take care, but they also want him to avoid a sophomore slump. By changing his style of play, it may be good for him on the long run, but it might actually push him into the slump.

The Giants will have a good core of offensive players. Hence, Dart should be able to still find some relief in the weapons he has. Also, he has a much better coach now, so Harbaugh should guide him into better situations as well.