New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart did not clear concussion protocol this week and will not play for the Giants Sunday in Detroit, interim head coach Mike Kafka confirmed Friday.
That means 11-year veteran quarterback Jameis Winston will start again this week for New York and make his 89th career start.
Dart and Winston are very different quarterbacks in that Dart has the added dynamic running element to his game. He has seven rushing touchdowns on the year and five in his last five starts. Winston is more of the traditional pocket passer.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who was with Winston in New Orleans when Campbell was an assistant with the Saints and Winston was the backup quarterback in 2020, said Detroit was preparing for both quarterbacks this week and doesn’t think a lot changes in terms of how the Giants want to attack Detroit’s defense with Winston now making his second straight start for New York.
“I think the core of what they do, and the pro-style offense itself is not going to change,” Campbell said. “And I think even if Dart had played, there wasn’t going to be a ton of quarterback run, things of that nature.
“So, I think run game itself, stays intact, I think the pass game – there is some vertical pass game to it. I don’t think it changes a ton.
“And look, I know Winston very well, man. This guy, he can put it on a dime. He’s not afraid to freaking rip it in there, he’s competitive, smart guy. He’s going to give (them) a chance. He’s played a lot of games, man, won a lot of games.”
Winston started last week in New York’s loss to Green Bay and was 19-of-29 passing for 201 yards with one interception and a 71.2 passer rating.