Monday Night Football in Foxborough will see the New York Giants start rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart after he cleared concussion protocol on Thursday; interim head coach Mike Kafka confirmed the decision following Friday’s practice ahead of the Week 13 matchup. Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, out since Week 10 with a shoulder injury, was the only Giant officially ruled out on the final injury report, while several others were listed as questionable. New England also listed safety Brenden Schooler and guard Jared Wilson as out, with three players questionable. Both clubs made practice-squad elevations and last-minute roster moves before kickoff.
Key Takeaways
- Jaxson Dart will start for the Giants after clearing concussion protocol on Thursday; he was the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 draft and had not played since Week 10 at Chicago.
- Kayvon Thibodeaux was the lone Giant ruled out on the final report due to a shoulder injury; cornerback Korie Black and linebackers Swayze Bozeman, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, and Victor Dimukeje were listed as questionable.
- The Giants elevated outside linebacker Tomon Fox from the practice squad and activated inside linebacker Swayze Bozeman and wide receiver Dalen Cambre on game day.
- Patriots ruled out safety Brenden Schooler (ankle) and guard Jared Wilson (ankle); Harold Landry III, Khyiris Tonga, and Garrett Bradbury were questionable.
- Dart is the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October and is the first quarterback in NFL history with a rushing touchdown in five straight games.
- Through Week 12 Dart has five games in 2025 with at least one passing TD and one rushing TD, tied with Josh Allen for the NFL lead; only Cam Newton (eight in 2011) has more as a rookie historically.
- Last week Jameis Winston posted a rare stat line — a receiving touchdown, two passing touchdowns and at least 300 passing yards — highlighting the Giants’ recent offensive variability.
- The Giants produced a season-high 517 yards in Detroit and have scored 20+ points in seven consecutive games, tying the second-longest such streak since 2000 for the franchise.
Background
The Giants entered Week 13 in a stretch of offensive production juxtaposed with a record that hasn’t matched their yardage and scoring outputs. Injuries to key defenders and inconsistent quarterback availability have shaped roster decisions all season; Jaxson Dart’s concussion after Week 10 at Chicago sidelined him for multiple games and created a rotation with veteran Jameis Winston and backup Russell Wilson. Dart was the club’s first-round pick (25th overall) in 2025 and earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October after a string of notable performances.
New England’s injury report has also been unsettled, with several regulars listed as questionable or out. The Patriots, playing at home in Foxborough, adjusted their active roster on Monday by elevating practice-squad players to cover late absences. Both teams’ last-minute moves reflect the modern NFL’s emphasis on depth and the practice squad as a source of immediate reinforcements on gameday.
Main Event
Mike Kafka confirmed before Friday’s practice that Jaxson Dart will make the start on Monday Night Football after clearing the league’s concussion protocol on Thursday. Dart had not taken a snap since sustaining the head injury in Week 10, and Winston started the two games in his absence. The club announced in the days leading to kickoff that Tomon Fox was signed from the practice squad and that Swayze Bozeman and Dalen Cambre were elevated to the active roster, moves designed to shore up linebacker depth and receiver options.
On the defensive side, Kayvon Thibodeaux remained ruled out due to that Week 10 shoulder problem, removing a primary pass-rush option from the lineup. Cornerback Korie Black and several linebackers were listed as questionable late in the week, leaving some uncertainty about snap counts and special-teams rotations. The Patriots’ list of inactive and questionable players included starters and rotational pieces, prompting roster elevations on New England’s side as well.
Statistically, Dart’s return carries significance beyond the roster note: he became the first QB in NFL history with a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games and, through 2025 Week 12, has five games with both a passing and rushing TD, tied with Josh Allen for the NFL lead. The Giants’ offense has produced large yardage totals — including a 517-yard game in Detroit — but the team’s win-loss record has not mirrored those outputs, a tension Dart acknowledged in practice comments.
Analysis & Implications
Dart’s activation shifts the Giants’ offensive identity back toward their draft investment and the dual-threat play that made him a first-round selection. His mobility and red-zone rushing add a dimension the Giants lacked when relying solely on veteran pocket passers, but the team’s recent pattern — high yardage sometimes paired with late-game losses — suggests that play-calling, situational execution and protection in crunch time must improve for wins to follow the offensive production.
Defensively, the absence of Kayvon Thibodeaux reduces New York’s edge-rushing depth and could affect opponent pass-protection strategies and blitz frequency. New elevations like Tomon Fox and Swayze Bozeman provide depth but are unlikely to fully replace Thibodeaux’s snap-to-snap impact; coaches may adjust fronts and stunt usage to compensate, which could change individual matchups for both the Giants and Patriots.
For New England, the inactive rulings for Brenden Schooler and Jared Wilson alter special-teams and interior line rotation plans. Questionable statuses for Harold Landry III and Khyiris Tonga — key pieces in their front seven — create uncertainty about how aggressively the Patriots will rush the passer or load the box. Both clubs’ late roster churn underscores the marginal gains teams pursue on short weeks or in primetime matchups where depth can determine fourth-quarter availability.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Giants 2025 | Notable Franchise Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Consecutive 20+ point games | 7 (tied) | 2011 Giants: 8 (season-long high since 2000) |
| Season-high yards (single game) | 517 vs. Detroit | N/A |
| Games with pass & rush TD (Dart, 2025) | 5 (tied for NFL lead) | Cam Newton (rookie, 2011): 8 |
The table above contextualizes the Giants’ recent stretch: productive offense (including a season-high 517 yards) has translated to a string of 20+ point games but not a commensurate win streak. Historically, the franchise’s most sustained scoring run in the modern era was eight consecutive games in 2011. Dart’s dual-threat scoring frequency places him in rare company for rookie quarterbacks and explains the organization’s willingness to return him to a primetime start quickly after protocol clearance.
Reactions & Quotes
Coach Mike Kafka confirmed Dart would start following Friday practice, positioning the rookie to lead the offense in Foxborough. The confirmation followed team medical clearance and practice participation late in the week.
“I’m ready.”
Jaxson Dart
Dart’s brief statement after practice reflected eagerness and recognition of primetime stakes; teammates and coaches framed the decision as both a performance and development opportunity for the rookie. Team sources said the coaching staff prioritized getting Dart back on the field given his playmaking abilities and the timing of the season.
“He’ll be our starter Monday night.”
Mike Kafka, Interim Head Coach
Kafka’s confirmation was procedural and succinct; it followed standard practice-day updates and signaled continuity with the club’s earlier decisions to prioritize Dart’s return. On the Patriots’ side, roster elevations and questionable listings prompted local analysts to emphasize depth usage and game-plan adjustments ahead of kickoff.
Unconfirmed
- Whether each questionable Giant (Korie Black, Swayze Bozeman, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Victor Dimukeje) would see significant snaps was not confirmed until official gameday participation reports.
- The exact snap counts for elevated players Tomon Fox, Swayze Bozeman and Dalen Cambre — and how those snaps would affect special teams and situational rotations — remained undetermined before kickoff.
- The final availability and role of Patriots players listed as questionable (Harold Landry III, Khyiris Tonga, Garrett Bradbury) depended on late-week medical evaluations and coaching decisions and were not confirmed in the Giants’ report.
Bottom Line
Jaxson Dart’s return as the starter for Monday Night Football resets the Giants’ quarterback conversation toward their 2025 draft investment and restores a dual-threat element to the offense. That mobility and red-zone rushing threat have produced historic rookie milestones, but translating yardage to wins will depend on end-of-game execution, protection, and defensive consistency.
The absence of Kayvon Thibodeaux and several questionable listings on both rosters highlight how injuries continue to influence depth and strategy in Week 13. Expect coaching staffs on both sides to adjust snap distributions and employ practice-squad elevations to plug immediate gaps; the late-week moves made by both teams reflect that reality and could sway special-teams matchups and situational effectiveness in the fourth quarter.