Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants have a tough task ahead as they face off against Patrick Surtain II and the red-hot Denver Broncos defense at Mile High Stadium on Sunday.
Dart was impressive in each of his first three career starts, but this will likely be his biggest challenge since taking over the starting quarterback job from Russell Wilson.
Dart will once again be asked to produce results with a brutally-thin wide receiver unit.
On Saturday, the team officially ruled out veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton. His absence on Sunday will mark his second consecutive missed game since suffering a hamstring injury against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5.
Slayton is one of five players who will not travel to Denver with the Giants, joining linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring), linebacker Swayze Bozeman (ankle), defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (neck) and center John Michael Schmitz (concussion).
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Slayton has 12 catches for 166 yards through five appearances so far this year. The veteran pass-catcher is the Giants’ third-leading receiver through the first six games of the season, trailing only Wan’Dale Robinson (351 yards) and Malik Nabers (271).
Nabers suffered a season-ending ACL tear in a Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers — Dart’s first career NFL start.
Robinson and third-year WR Jalin Hyatt will be asked to step up with Slayton out against the Broncos. The team has also elevated Lil’Jordan Humphrey from the practice squad with the expectation that he’ll play the majority of snaps, as he did in last week’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Running back Cam Skattebo and tight end Theo Johnson have also established themselves as two of Dart’s favorite weapons in the pass game.
Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Broncos will kickoff at 4:05 p.m. ET.