Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo have been attached ever since they were drafted by the Giants — Dart in the first round, Skattebo in the fourth — earlier this season.
And their bond only grew when the rookie duo helped give the Giants a spark once Dart took over the starting quarterback spot following an 0-3 start to the season.
So it was no surprise to see Dart’s emotional reaction to Skattebo going down with an apparently serious right ankle injury when he was hit while attempting to make a catch in the second quarter Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
With the training staff tending to Skattebo, who had a cast placed on his lower right leg before being carted off at Lincoln Financial Field, Dart could be seen yelling to himself and then taking a knee, seemingly unable to look at Skattebo’s injury.
As Skattebo left the field, Fox cameras caught third-string quarterback Jameis Winston appearing to console and perhaps encourage Dart, with an arm around his shoulder.
An extended absence by Skattebo, which is expected, is another blow to a Giants offense that was already without star wide receiver Malik Nabers, who suffered a torn ACL last month.
Even without Nabers, Dart injected life into the offense — with considerable help from Skattebo, as their athleticism and personalities gave Giants fans something to root for.
Earlier Sunday, Dart hit Skattebo for an 18-yard touchdown pass that helped tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
It was against the Eagles two weeks ago that Skattebo had his best game as a Giant, scoring three rushing touchdowns and gaining 98 yards on the ground.
He was also fined $15,000 for his role in violating the league-mandated concussion protocol during Dart’s sideline examination in that Oct. 9 victory at MetLife Stadium.
That was part of a convincing win at MetLife Stadium that had the team thinking about the postseason.
But then came the devastating loss in Denver last Sunday, when the Giants blew an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter, and this injury to Skattebo, and Dart and Co. are left to figure out how to stay competitive.
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