Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart unexpectedly showed up on the practice field Friday to stretch with his teammates and then worked out after.

That marked a step forward in Dart’s progression through the concussion protocol despite being ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers (5-3-1).

Interim head coach Mike Kafka has said multiple times that Dart is “on track” in the protocol, but he was careful not to discuss the details or timeline of Dart’s concussion.

“He’s still in the protocol, and I wouldn’t want to speak on what the severity of it is,” Kafka said. “I know our guys are taking care of him, and he’s been around the building and around the guys. So it’s been cool to see him.”

Caution with Dart would be prudent here by the Giants (2-8). Their season is over. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo are out for good. And Dart has been evaluated for a concussion four times in four months.

It’s not out of the question, therefore, that the team could keep Dart out for more than one game.

“I think whatever the docs and our medical staff recommend us do, that’s probably the best,” Kafka said about that possibility. “I’m not a doctor, so whatever’s best for him is what we’ll do.”

On the other hand, the training staff’s decision to ramp up Dart’s protocol to on-field work this quickly seems to indicate that the rookie is tracking towards a return sooner than later, as long as he does not suffer a setback.

If the Giants intend to bring Dart back for next week’s trip to Detroit then, they need to do a way better job of protecting him.

They cannot risk long-term consequences and symptoms for their promising young quarterback, especially during a meaningless stretch of games.

Dart’s future already was put in jeopardy by apparent negligence last Sunday in Chicago.

Neither the NFL’s concussion spotters nor the Giants immediately evaluated the quarterback after he fumbled, hit his head on the grass and lied motionless late in the third quarter.

Quarterback coach Shea Tierney spoke to Dart once he slowly rose from the ground and came to the sideline, and Tierney said he didn’t notice anything off about Dart.

“He came off, and he was just talking about the fumble,” Tierney said.

So did Tierney ask Dart why he didn’t reach out for the ball after he fumbled on that play?

“Never really came up,” Tierney said. “We didn’t talk about that.”

Kafka seemingly played a role in identifying that something was wrong with Dart when the Giants started their next drive.

As the play-calling offensive coordinator, Kafka was the one sending plays in to the quarterback’s headset and communicating directly with him.

Kafka noted that something “didn’t sound right” about Dart.

“There was a time where we had some time between the play when we were flipping fields, and it didn’t sound right, didn’t feel right,” Kafka said. “So out of respect for the kid and his health we said, ‘Hey, we should probably just get him checked out and let the doctors decide.”

“That’s not easy to do, I’ll say that, taking your quarterback out of the game,” Kafka added. “I thought it was really smart and heads up by our staff and the coaches that saw it and identified it quickly, as fast as they could, and then got it to the doctors, which I thought was important.”

As of mid-afternoon Friday, there had been no investigation opened into the apparent mishandling of Dart’s concussion.

Dart is the most exciting and important player on this team. He is also the biggest attraction to head coaching candidates during the Giants’ upcoming search to replace the fired Brian Daboll.

More game experience can help his development. But his health means more. It means everything.

So the Giants need to proceed appropriately. And cautiously.

ADEBO BACK, THIBODEAUX AND SLAYTON OUT

Dart (concussion), wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring), edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder), defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (Neck) and offensive lineman Evan Neal (hamstring) are out for Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Safety Tyler Nubin (neck) and defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (toe) are doubtful and are not expected to play.

Corner Paulson Adebo (knee) and Bobby Okereke (shoulder) are listed as questionable, but the good news is both are expected to play. Adebo has missed the last three games during the Giants’ four-game losing streak.