Harbaugh Won't Commit to Playing Dart Against the NFL's Most Blitz-Heavy Defense

John Harbaugh has declined twice this week to say whether Jaxson Dart will play in Saturday's preseason opener against Minnesota. The last time Dart faced this defense, he completed 7 of 13 passes for 33 yards, threw an interception and was sacked five times.

That was Dec. 21, 2025. Brian Flores still runs the Vikings' defense.

Asked Thursday whether his starters would play, Harbaugh said: "I plan on not talking about who's going to play. That's what I plan on doing." Asked a day earlier whether Dart specifically would play, he said: "Oh, that's a good direct question I'm going to have to dodge. I'm going to have to bob and weave and I'll say, I'll let you know later."

Harbaugh did explain his thinking Thursday.

"I value first team reps very much," he said. "And you have to measure that against the risk."

He pointed to how he handled the preseason in Baltimore, where he spent 18 seasons before the Giants hired him on Jan. 17. "In the past three or four years, we didn't play hardly any starters," Harbaugh said. "Our formula was pretty much to spread the reps out evenly through the three games for the guys that needed to play."

He named two complications specific to this roster. "So, that is a big part of it – executing a new offense – but also a young quarterback," he said. "We've got a young quarterback who's just in his second year, who didn't play a whole season even last year. So, he's just getting started. And we're going to be playing two of the best teams in our conference right out of the gates."

Those are Dallas on Sept. 13 and the Rams in Week 2.

The opponent

Minnesota blitzed on 51.2% of dropbacks in 2025, the highest rate in the league, according to FTN Fantasy's Bryan Knowles. It rushed five or more pass rushers on 45.9% and rushed four on 51.6% — the lowest four-man rate in the NFL. Next Gen Stats also had the Vikings first in blitz rate in 2024, at 40.6%, though that figure uses a different definition and the two numbers do not describe a trend.

Dart faced that defense in December. His 33 passing yards came on 13 attempts. J.J. McCarthy, then Minnesota's starter, went 9 of 14 for 108 yards with an interception and added a rushing touchdown in a 16-13 Vikings win at MetLife Stadium.

Matt Nagy's offense is not finished. "We're halfway through our run install and halfway through our pass install, if it gives you any perspective," the offensive coordinator said Aug. 11.

Nagy expects "some struggles as we go through this now in training camp and during the season." Of that day's practice, he said: "Today was an average practice, maybe below average. It wasn't good enough."

Who isn't playing

There is no official injury report in the preseason. What follows comes from practice reporting and press conferences.

Malik Nabers will not play. He took his first team reps of camp Wednesday and Thursday in a red non-contact jersey after tearing his ACL last season.

Harbaugh ruled out Jalin Hyatt on Thursday, saying the receiver "will be out, ruled out as far as an injury."

Paulson Adebo, listed as the first-team cornerback on the depth chart the Giants released Wednesday, is dealing with a hamstring injury. "Some of those guys that didn't practice today would probably be game-time decisions," Harbaugh said Thursday, and named Adebo as "one of those game time decision guys."

Greg Newsome II and Dru Phillips were both limited to individual drills this week with knee injuries, according to Big Blue Interactive's practice reports. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Lucas Patrick, both with knee injuries, were also restricted.

Center John Michael Schmitz has not practiced since sustaining a concussion Aug. 7. Harbaugh did not include him among the players he ruled out Thursday, though Big Blue Interactive listed him as out in its Friday preview. Bryan Hudson has taken the first-team center reps.

The cornerback injuries have already moved the roster. The Giants released David Long Jr. and waived D.J. James with an injury designation on Thursday, eight days after signing both, and added Ugochukwu Amadi and Sam Webb. They also hosted Terrion Arnold, who agreed to a deal with Seattle instead.

Beckham

Odell Beckham Jr. will play. "He's looked good. He's in shape. He's taking every rep he's supposed to take in practice," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "He will play and I'm looking forward to seeing him play."

It will be Beckham's first game action in 615 days. He last appeared for Miami against the Jets on Dec. 8, 2024, and was waived five days later. He did not play in 2025.

"Like I told you before, I kind of had two years off, and that time was spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, whatever it was, I got time to heal," Beckham said Aug. 5. "So, I feel good."

The Giants' first unofficial depth chart, released Wednesday, listed him with the third team.

The kicking job

Dominic Zvada made all seven of his field goal attempts Wednesday — six during the field goal period, then a 62-yarder as time expired in a simulated game-winning situation. Neither Harbaugh nor special teams coordinator Chris Horton has said when the job gets decided.

GiantsGator covered the competition in detail on Thursday.

The rest

Arvell Reese will make his NFL debut. The Giants took the Ohio State linebacker fifth overall in April and list him at linebacker, though general manager Joe Schoen said on NFL Network's "The Insiders" on April 30 that Reese would also take snaps on the edge.

"He's been impressive, not to put too much on a kid's plate, being a rookie, but he's picked up everything from a defensive structure, the calls, the adjustments, and he's running around playing fast and physical," defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said Aug. 11.

Minnesota named Kyler Murray its starting quarterback Tuesday, choosing the former No. 1 overall pick over McCarthy. Kevin O'Connell said the Vikings plan to play both quarterbacks; Vikings.com wrote that Murray will "likely play a series or two at most." Justin Jefferson is not expected to play and is scheduled to join the Minnesota broadcast in the third quarter.

Kickoff is 1 p.m. The game airs locally on NBC 4 New York and is not being broadcast nationally. The Giants play at Miami on Aug. 22 and at the Jets on Aug. 28 before rosters must be cut to 53 at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30.