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ARLINGTON — Jaxson Dart had an unforgettable NFL debut.
Not because of anything the rookie backup quarterback did but because he participated in a nominee for the game of the year and got a bitter taste of what it feels like for the Giants to continue to be dominated by the Cowboys in a drama-packed 40-37 walk-off loss at AT&T Stadium.
“We work our ass off all week and all offseason,” Dart said, “and to lose like that and have chances to win, it just stings throughout the locker room.”
Dart played three one-off, fourth-quarter snaps in place of the red-hot Russell Wilson after the Giants red-zone offense picked up where it left off, sputtering through last week.
Dart and head coach Brian Daboll were chatting on the sideline before unveiling the much-hyped Dart Package for the Quarterback of the Future.
“They told me, red-zone-wise, just to be prepared. Short-yardage stuff,” Dart said. “That was really just the conversation.”
Dart handed off to Cam Skattebo for a 24-yard gain down to the 1-yard line when it seemed that the defense was worried about his legs as a run-pass option keeper.
“It’s just a zone-read play and you look back on it and see the flow of the linebackers open things up a little bit for Skatt,” Dart said. “Our O-line blocked it up really well, and Skatt was able to get loose.”
Dart could’ve had a big gain with one man to beat on a keeper later in the quarter, but he slipped.
“Turf monster,” said Dart, acknowledging he saw space. “That’s why I kept the ball. Just slipped.”
ILBs Darius Muasau (concussion) and Chris Board (chest) did not finish the game, which has brought depth to an alarming low.
Board is a special-teamer who was only on the field with the starters because of injuries to Micah McFadden, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Muasau.
Third-round pick rookie Darius Alexander made his NFL debut, too, after he was a healthy scratch in Week 1.
Alexander was needed because DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches was out with an injury, though he was still playing behind practice-squad elevation Elijah Garcia, who had a sack in overtime.
Along with Flannigan-Fowles and Nunez-Roches, the other inactive Giants were LT Andrew Thomas, WR Xavier Gipson, OL Evan Neal, TE Thomas Fidone II and QB Jameis Winston.
In Week 1, Wan’Dale Robinson was back with Gunner Olszewski on kickoff return.
This week, with Robinson missing practice time with an ankle issue, it was Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tracy ended up with five kickoff returns for 132 yards, with a long return of 30 yards.
“Felt good,” Tracy said. “First couple were a little weird, but I felt I got in rhythm.”
Tracy did not start — Devin Singletary did — and had just five carries for 15 yards, but three running backs touched the ball on the first four offensive snaps.
— Paul Schwartz contributed to this story.
