Skattebo plays and Dart clears concussion protocol as Giants beat Patriots in preseason finale

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Cam Skattebo saw his first game action for the New York Giants and Jaxson Dart had an eventful preseason finale by throwing a touchdown pass and clearing concussion protocol following a big hit, with reserves playing much of a 42-10 rout of the New England Patriots on Thursday night.

Skattebo started at running back after missing much of training camp because of a hamstring injury setback and had three carries for 12 yards. Getting the the nod at quarterback with Russell Wilson and most of the starters sitting out, Dart showed some more promise along with a reminder he is a rookie.

The first-round pick out of Mississippi completed 6 of 12 passes for 81 yards, including a 50-yard throw and catch with Gunner Olszewski and a touchdown to Greg Dulcich. Instead of sliding to give himself up on a run late in the first quarter, he fumbled when tackled by Jack Gibbens and was taken to the medical tent on the sideline to be evaluated for a concussion.

“He got the wind knocked out of him,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s good. Yeah, I would like him to slide on that.”

Dart did not return, though Daboll said it was always the plan to turn to Jameis Winston after the first. Winston replaced Dart and connected with Jalin Hyatt on a 27-yard TD on the next play.

“Shoutout to Jameis for throwing a touchdown and finishing that last drive that I was in,” Dart said.

Dart finished the preseason 32 of 47 passing for 372 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, also running six times for 52 yards and a TD.

“I feel like whenever my number is called that I’m going to go out there and I’m going to play my game and I’m going to ball,” Dart said. “That’s just my mindset any time I touch the field.”

Dart and No. 3 pick Abdul Carter, who was disruptive in the couple of plays he got on the field, were the captains for the pregame coin toss — a glimpse into what the organization hopes is its future cornerstones on offense and defense.

Fourth-string QB Tommy DeVito had three TD passes after taking over for Winston, and rookie TJ Moore scored on a 44-yard pick-6. The Giants (3-0) went unbeaten in exhibition play for the first time since 2019, outscoring opponents 107-47.

The Patriots (2-1) rested nearly all of their starters, including QB Drake Maye, plus backup Josh Dobbs. In their absences, undrafted free agent Ben Woolridge played the entire game, going 10 of 20 for 82 yards.

“Decided to do that and give us a chance to evaluate some other players,” coach Mike Vrabel said his decision not to play most of his first-team offense and defense. “Where we’re at is still building and developing.”

Patriots: Receiver Kendrick Bourne was among those who did not dress because of a leg injury.

Giants: Moore was carted off after injuring his right leg on a punt with under four minutes left. Teammates took a knee while he was attended to by medical personnel, and Wilson, Dart and Winston helped lift him onto the cart. Daboll said: "It wasn’t good. I feel for that young man."

Patriots: Host Las Vegas to open the season Sept. 7.

Giants: At Washington to open the season Sept. 7.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots wide receiver Jeremiah Webb (29) makes a touchdown catch against New York Giants cornerback Dee Williams (33) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New England Patriots wide receiver Jeremiah Webb (29) makes a touchdown catch against New York Giants cornerback Dee Williams (33) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) passes the ball against the New England Patriots during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) is tackled by New England Patriots linebacker Jack Gibbens (51) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) hands off the ball to running back Cam Skattebo (44) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has not spared a single Ukrainian power plant from attack since its all-out invasion, Ukraine’s new energy minister said Friday, as a recent escalation of aerial bombardments left hundreds of thousands of people without heat or light for days during the coldest winter in years.

Denys Shmyhal said Russia conducted 612 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure objects over last year. That barrage has intensified in recent months as nighttime temperatures plunge to minus 18 degrees C (minus 0.4 F).

“Nobody in the world has ever faced such a challenge,” Shmyhal told lawmakers in a speech at Ukraine’s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

Russia has hammered Ukraine’s power grid, especially in winter, throughout the almost four-year war. It aims to weaken the Ukrainian will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call “weaponizing winter.”

Securing from abroad new missile supplies for air defenses that can counter Russia’s power grid attacks is a difficult and exhausting process, Zelenskyy said, revealing that some of the country’s air defense systems were out of missiles and at Russia’s mercy until a new shipment arrived Friday morning.

Obtaining supplies requires intense diplomatic pressure due to minimum stockpile levels and national laws in allied countries, according to the Ukrainian leader.

“But honestly, what do those rules and laws mean when we are at war and we desperately need these missiles?” Zelenskyy said.

The grim outlook roughly halfway through the winter season coincides with uncertainty about the direction and progress of U.S.-led peace efforts.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that a Ukrainian delegation is on its way to the United States to try and finalize with Washington documents for a proposed peace settlement that relate to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery.

If American officials approve the proposals, the U.S. and Ukraine could sign the documents next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said at a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to be in Davos, organizers say.

Russia would still need to be consulted on the proposals.

In Ukraine, the hardship was acute amid extended blackouts.

“This is a critical moment,” Jaime Wah, the deputy head in the Kyiv delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said Friday.

“This is the hardest winter since the escalation of the conflict: punishing cold temperatures and the lack of heating and electricity are affecting millions who are already pushed to the edge by years of violence and economic strain,” he told a briefing in Geneva.

Ukraine's power shortage is so desperate that Shmyhal urged businesses to switch off their illuminated signage and exterior decorations to save electricity.

“If you have spare energy, better give it to people,” the energy minister said. “This is the most important thing today. People will be grateful.”

Ukraine has introduced emergency measures, including temporarily easing curfew restrictions to allow people to go whenever they need to public heating centers set up by the authorities, Shmyhal said. He said hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure remain the top priority for electricity and heat supplies.

Officials have instructed state energy companies Ukrzaliznytsia, Naftogaz and Ukroboronprom to urgently purchase imported electricity covering at least 50% of their own consumption, according to Shmyhal.

U.K. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was in Kyiv on Friday to mark the first anniversary of the “100-year partnership” between Britain and Ukraine. To coincide with the anniversary, Britain announced a further 20 million pounds ($27 million) for repairs to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

A grinding war of attrition is continuing along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. For all its military might, Russia has managed to occupy less than 20% of Ukraine since 2014.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Emergency tents are set up in a residential neighborhood where people can warm up following Russia's regular air attacks against the country's energy objects that leave residents without power, water and heating in the dead of winter, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Vladyslav Musiienko)