NFL Preseason Wrap: Jaxson Dart Shines, Stars Await Deals
The NFL preseason has officially wrapped up, and while August football is never the full picture, it always leaves us with storylines, surprises, and a little drama to carry into the regular season. The games might be stripped down, the playbooks watered down, and many stars sitting out, but the preseason still gives fans a glimpse of who’s rising, who’s struggling, and who might be on the verge of a breakout. This year, one of the biggest names to emerge was New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart, the Giants’ first-round pick and self-proclaimed “Star Wars” fan, looked every bit like a future franchise player. If there were such a thing as a preseason MVP, Dart probably would’ve walked away with it. Over three games, he threw for 372 yards, three touchdowns, and finished with a passer rating north of 113, while also adding 52 rushing yards and another score on the ground. In the finale against the Patriots, he capped his strong showing with yet another touchdown, flashing both his arm strength and mobility. Giants fans, desperate for a spark after last season’s 3-14 campaign, are already buzzing. While Russell Wilson still holds the starting job for now, it wouldn’t be shocking if Dart forces the team’s hand sooner than later.
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And he wasn’t alone. Several rookie quarterbacks showed flashes, including No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in Tennessee and Tyler Shough with the Saints. Even Seattle’s Jalen Milroe and Philly’s Kyle McCord had their moments, while Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders had a rough finale but still made the roster alongside his brother Dillon Gabriel. For a preseason that’s often forgettable, this rookie class gave fans plenty to watch.
But it wasn’t just quarterbacks making noise. Tampa Bay rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka turned heads with a spectacular touchdown grab, and Jacksonville kicker Cam Little drilled a jaw-dropping 70-yarder – four yards past the NFL’s regular-season record. On the veteran side, Joe Flacco, now 40 years old, won the Browns’ starting job by simply staying healthy and steady while his competition struggled. The Bills quietly took care of business by extending James Cook, while Kansas City and Cincinnati rolled out their starters in hopes of starting hot, something Zac Taylor’s Bengals have historically struggled to do.
Still, not everyone left August on a high note. Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, and Terry McLaurin remain in contract standoffs, sitting out the grind of camp but raising real questions about their Week 1 readiness. The Bears, despite flashes from Caleb Williams, showed inconsistency against the Chiefs. Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson has slid down to backup duty, and Matthew Stafford’s health remains an uneasy storyline for the Rams. Even Aaron Rodgers, now with Pittsburgh, sat out the entire preseason, sparking debate over whether he should’ve logged at least a few live reps in a new system.
So, the rehearsals are over and the stakes are real. The preseason gave fans optimism in New York, caution in Chicago, and plenty of uncertainty in places like Dallas and Cincinnati. Now, with Week 1 around the corner, the questions become sharper: how soon will Jaxson Dart get his shot, will the contract hold-ins be resolved, and which August storylines will carry over into September? Only one way to find out – the real football starts now.
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