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Washington’s commanders didn’t try to hide their game plan for Jaxson Dart: They wanted to “strike.”
That’s what the “Hard Knocks” cameras caught head coach Dan Quinn telling his team as they prepared to face the New York Giants and the rookie sensation, who has been checked for five concussions and diagnosed with one since the start of the preseason.
It’s no secret that Dart uses his legs as a weapon, but the rookie probably took one punch too many. Quinn pointed out the crushing hit a New England Patriots linebacker delivered to Dart two weeks ago, as Dart was returning from a concussion.
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The Washington Commanders defense attempts to take down New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) in the second quarter on Sunday, December 14, 2025. (Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)
“When he’s here, he’s a running back first,” Quinn said. “That’s a good shot from Christian Elliss on the sideline, okay? He’s not looking to come down and get into the slide. We’ve got to come out swinging, guys.”
Dart laughed off Quinn’s comments, just as he has other concerns about the hits he’s taken this season, saying their game plan is nothing he hasn’t seen before.
“I mean, [Georgia coach] Kirby Smart said the exact same thing every time he played against me, just like [former Alabama coach] Nick Saban, just like every coach I played for in college, Dart, an Ole Miss alum, said Wednesday after practice, via SNY. “It’s not new. It’s not something new that’s been brought up in my career.”
Washington Commanders defensive end Jacob Martin (55) tackles New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch/Imagn Images)
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Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. echoed Quinn’s sentiments.
“The quarterback is a very competitive dual-threat guy,” Whitt said in a meeting. “He’ll try to run the ball like a running back. He’ll try to run over you. He’ll try to stiffen up. He doesn’t really go out of bounds. He doesn’t slide much. We can take the ball away from him. The ball is life, it’s air, and we need that.”
The Commanders hit the road to defeat the Giants, 29-21, even with Marcus Mariota at the helm. Dart’s 55.6 completion percentage was his lowest mark of the season, but he rushed nine times for 63 yards.
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Dart had an even 400 rushing yards on 80 carries, seven of which resulted in touchdowns. He will surely look to add to those numbers against a stout Minnesota Vikings defense on Sunday in New Jersey.
