Giants make QB decision after John Harbaugh’s ‘meaningless’ pre-season move criticized

John Harbaugh is under fire for making Jaxson Dart return to the field after a scary hit.

Harbaugh took charge of his first game as New York Giants head coach in Saturday’s pre-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

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Harbaugh was fired by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason, and just two weeks later became the next man to attempt to take the Giants back to the postseason for the first time since 2022.

Harbaugh’s usage of Dart in the pre-season contest has baffled some across the NFL world.

Harbaugh criticized for leaving Dart in pre-season game

As time wound down late in the first quarter, Dart lay motionless on the field for a few seconds after taking a big hit from safety Jay Ward.

He was sent to the blue medical tent, re-emgered and was immediately put back into the game for the next snap in a decision that baffled SNY’s NFL Insider Connor Hughes.

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“The bringing him back in after he was cleared, I don’t think there’s any explanation that I can give you that’s going to make that one make sense,” Hughes said. 

“It’s a meaningless preseason game, he’d already had a decent amount of reps.

“To bring him back in for one play right after he was knocked on his you-know-what, it’s not something I would do.”

“I was at that game. He laid on the field motionless for several seconds.

“It was a noteworthy scene to just see him curled up like that.

“Yeah, he might have had the wind knocked out of him. But any independent anything that sees that transpire is going to say, ‘Hey, go let that guy get checked out.'”

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Giants sign veteran Jake Haener as additional cover

An injury to Dart before the regular season is the last thing the Giants need.

During his rookie campaign, Dart underwent five separate concussion evaluations, though he was officially diagnosed only once.

Backup reps for Brandon Allen and Jameis Winston against the Vikings highlight the team’s ongoing search for reliable QB depth.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Giants are signing veteran Jake Haener after he worked out for the team in July.

Haener upped with the Kansas City Chiefs on a reserve/future contract, but was released after they added Justin Fields.

Haener spent the entirety of 2025 on the practice squad in New Orleans.

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He has completed 18 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his NFL career, but given the concerns over Dart he may see meaningful preseason action across the next fortnight.