Giants' Theo Johnson fined for unnecessary roughness after Jaxson Dart takes sideline hit in loss to Patriots

The fallout from the scrap between the Giantsand Patriots from this past Monday Night Football has been determined.

Giants TE Theo Johnson was fined $6,488 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness after he went after Patriots LB Christian Elliss in the first quarter of their Week 13 matchup this Monday. The scrum occurred after Elliss laid a big hit on QB Jaxson Dart, who was scampering down the sideline. Elliss was not flagged or fined for the hit by the league, as it was deemed legal because Dart was still in bounds when the hit occurred.

Johnson was flagged for a personal foul for starting the altercation.

Theo Johnson picks up a personal foul penalty after Jaxson Dart takes a big hit along the sidelines pic.twitter.com/MCfoARu7DQ

- Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) December 2, 2025

The Patriots said after the 33-15 win that the brief skirmish gave their team motivation and sparked momentum. And Elliss had plenty to say when asked about his hit in the postgame news conference.

"I saw him tiptoeing, stay in bounds, what am I supposed to do?" Elliss said. "We play hard on defense, we try to bring life to this team. That's all I was trying to do - do my job and hit anything in the whites...I understand it. If that wasDrake [Maye]that took that shot, we would've probably reacted the exact same way."

"It was a good hit," Dart said of the play on Tuesday. "I appreciate my guys having my back. That's something they do for me, and I'd do the same thing for them."

The legal hit on Dart put a light on, perhaps, the rookie's over-aggressive nature when he runs. The Giants' signal-caller has missed two games due to a concussion and has been defiant when asked about his play, especially after Elliss' hit.

Dart and the Giants are on their bye week but will finish off the season with games against the Commanders, Vikings, Raiders and Cowboys.