New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor, a former Giant and seasoned dual-threat veteran, issued a pointed advisory to rookie sensation Jaxson Dart as the young signal-caller navigates the perils of his mobile playing style.
Taylor, who himself learned the hard way after amassing 2,424 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns over a nomadic 15-year career, emphasized the cumulative dangers of unnecessary hits after Dart was rocked along the sideline in Week 13.
“You never want to take away what makes a guy special,” Taylor told the New York Post. “It was a legal hit. My advice to him would be to be smart about those. Over the course of a season, over the course of a career, those add up. Your best ability is availability, so you want to be out there for the guys and making plays. By all means, do what feels natural, but understand the toll that it takes when you continue to keep taking those hits.”
Taylor reflected on his own path, using his injury history as a cautionary tale.
“For sure, I had to learn that,” Taylor said of avoiding hits. “As a dual-threat guy, I’ve definitely taken some hits that I shouldn’t have taken in my career. There’s a learning curve that comes with that, and hopefully he learns sooner than not because he’s a special player. His team is better, obviously, when he’s available.”
Taylor’s counsel arrives at a critical juncture for Dart, underscoring the fine line between explosive athleticism and self-preservation in the NFL’s unforgiving arena. With Taylor’s roadmap, the Giants‘ future star could sidestep pitfalls that once sidelined Taylor himself.