The Detroit Lions are looking to get back in the win column after suffering a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week and their chances might’ve just become a little stronger.
The Lions’ Week 12 opponents, the New York Giants, will be without dual-threat rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart for the second straight game on Sunday while he remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Dart first entered concussion protocols in Week 10 after taking a hit against the Chicago Bears and despite returning to practice this week, interim head coach Mike Kafka announced on Friday he had not yet cleared protocols and would remain out for Week 12.
Since being selected 25th overall in the 2025 draft, Dart took over as the team’s starter in Week 4 and has thrown for 1,417 yards with 10 passing touchdowns and another 317 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Despite a rough 2-9 record for the Giants this season, Dart has been one of the bright spots with a 2-5 record as the starter.
This means the Giants will turn to veteran quarterback Jameis Winston to try and break the team’s five-game losing streak against a Detroit team focused on redemption after their loss to the Eagles.
The former No. 1 overall pick played and started his first game of the season last week against the Green Bay Packers, completing 65.5% of his passes for 201 yards with one interceptions and a rushing score.
Winston last started against the Lions in 2019, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 38-17 win at Ford Field.
Regardless of who would go under center for the Giants, the Lions’ defense wasn’t going to change much for their game plan be it Dart, Winston or third-stringer Russell Wilson at quarterback.
“They have a lot of depth in that quarterback room where they can go down to their third guy and it’s a Super Bowl champion,” defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said Thursday. “There’s not like anything is going to change as far as playing. Obviously, the QB run game stuff you have to be more prepared for because we do believe it’ll uptick in the illusion of the QB run, so to say, if Jaxson plays. But we’ll be ready for any guy that they put out there Sunday.”
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