Giants' Jaxson Dart and Theo Johnson just peachy after first meeting at bowl game
Giants tight end Theo Johnson celebrates his touchdown catch against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL game Sunday in New Orleans. Credit: AP/Gerald Herbert
When Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter were introduced as Giants’ first-round picks, both shared their memories facing off in the 2023 Peach Bowl.
Another future Giant also played that game. Theo Johnson caught a touchdown for Penn State and the tight end also took note of Dart, who had 379 yards and four total touchdowns — three passing — in Ole Miss’ win.
“He was dicing us up that game,” Johnson told Newsday this week. “That was the first time I’ve ever really seen him in live action and as a true competitor. Thought he had a really good game and he was throwing the ball to his tight ends the whole time that game.”
Two years later, Johnson’s seeing how much Dart loves tight ends. In two games as a starter, Dart’s three touchdown passes have all gone to Johnson, including two in last Sunday’s loss to the Saints.
Dart’s chemistry with Johnson will be critical Thursday night against the Eagles. Wide receiver Darius Slayton was ruled out (hamstring) so Dart will be down two receivers that he had in his debut after Malik Nabers’ ACL injury.
It helped the Giants ran a lot of two tight end sets in New Orleans. But that position has been Dart’s favorite target so far. In his two starts, Dart’s targeted Johnson 12 times, tied for the team lead over that span with Wan’Dale Robinson.
“He's a guy that comes to work every single day and works at his craft very diligently and consistently,” Dart said of Johnson earlier this month. “When you see a guy like that, you definitely have a ton of respect for him."
Ten of Dart’s 26 completions last Sunday went to Johnson and fellow tight end Daniel Bellinger. Johnson’s six catches were a career high in his second season.
Tight ends can often be a great security blanket for rookie quarterbacks. It helped that Johnson and Dart remembered each other well from their bowl game showdown and the relationship got closer seeing how similar they were approaching the game.
“We just came together and got along pretty easily,” Johnson said. “Two guys who just work really hard and get along outside the field too.”
Dart was already convinced about Johnson’s skill set after the Peach Bowl. But he was more impressed after seeing how Johnson tested at the NFL Combine.
“What stood out initially was his Combine numbers and just athletic he was,” Dart said Tuesday. “So, I was really excited coming in here to be able to be on the same field with him. He's been nothing but just hardworking and a guy who you can really trust out there on the field.”
Dart’s first touchdown pass in his debut was a shovel flip to Johnson that was reminiscent of a play Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has done with his tight end Travis Kelce.
But Dart’s trust in his tight end showed up later that game. On third-and-5 with 2:38 left in regulation, Dart found Johnson for a 10-yard pass that kept the drive going and allowed the Giants to drain the clock to 18 seconds and get the win.
Both made an adjustment on the play from watching film together. If the middle of the field was open, Dart told Johnson to cut his route short and wait for the pass.
It was a bold call since Dart hadn’t thrown many routes to Johnson while being the backup quarterback. But both trusted they’d be in sync if that play was called.
“We both talked about it,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t really something that we talked about with the coaches but we both are like, hey if we get this look, that’s probably how we want to play it.”
The chemistry might still be new but it’s proving potent already. Johnson’s emergence is another side plot to Dart’s rookie season where it’s easier for him learning the ropes with a familiar foe now turned partner.
“I look forward to continuing to develop our timing, our relationship with each other,” Dart said. “I'm just excited to be able to play with him for a long time.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
