NFL to make punishment decision after Jaxson Dart incident in Giants-Cowboys game

The NFL will have a punishment decision to make after Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was flagged for a hit on New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Dart scrambled toward the sideline during Sunday night's NFC East matchup before Overshown delivered a hit as the quarterback was going out of bounds. The officials immediately threw a flag for unnecessary roughness, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.

Video of the play shared by Rate the Refs on X shows Overshown making contact with Dart near the sideline. The NFL will now review the play as part of its normal postgame officiating process.

The biggest question will be how the league classifies the hit. It could be considered a late hit because Dart was moving out of bounds when Overshown made contact. However, the league could also determine that Dart was a defenseless player at the time of the hit.

That distinction matters because the two infractions carry different fines under the NFL's 2026 schedule.

A first-offense late hit carries a $11,941 fine, while a first-offense hit on a defenseless player carries a $17,911 fine.

Based on the nature of the play, the more expensive classification could be the one Overshown ultimately receives. However, the NFL has not announced a punishment, so the $17,911 figure remains a projection rather than a confirmed fine.

The league reviews potential violations after games and sends players a letter explaining the infraction and fine if discipline is issued. Players can also appeal the decision.

Overshown will now wait for the league's ruling. The NFL's weekly discipline announcements should provide the answer on whether the Cowboys linebacker receives the $11,941 late-hit fine or the more significant $17,911 penalty for hitting a defenseless player.