There are times in football when the scoreboard recedes and all that is left is the man on the grass. For TJ Moore, a rookie cornerback battling for his place on the New York Giants roster, that time came in the worst possible way. Earlier in the evening, the 19-year-old had provided a highlight that every young defensive back hopes for: jumping over a route, intercepting the ball, and running it back for a touchdown. The pick-six was not only a play, it was a statement. Moore was making some noise in a deep depth chart, proving he had the instincts and burst to fit.

But with 3:49 to go in the last preseason contest against the Patriots, the evening became dark. Moore had what looked like a horrific leg injury. One that immediately brought teammates and coaches to his side. The entire Giants roster rushed onto the field and circled around as medical staff wheeled Moore away. Fans at MetLife and those at home could sense the silence of one of those ‘hard to watch’ moments where the game itself became an afterthought.

So, how did it all happen? Well, after the pick-six play, Moore was sprinting down the field on punt coverage when he lost a bit of balance. As his right foot stuck awkwardly in the turf, the pressure forced his leg to bend in a way it never should, leaving the play with a frightening twist.

Well, injuries are football’s reality, but this was unfortunate timing. Finales of the preseason are all about promise, those final tryouts before the roster is set. Moore had signed on for three tackles and a 44-yard pick-six. The kind of splash play that coaches put your name in a magic marker. Now, instead of fighting for plays, the expectation moves away from roster fights to recovery windows. At the tender age of 19, he is still a prospect with athletic ability, but his future now can include a long journey back. He’s still a young guy, with so much potential, and that’s why the injury stings so much worse, but his battle isn’t done yet.

And speaking of youngsters—Moore’s not the first to have got himself into the league at such a young age. Do you know who the youngest player in NFL history was? The youngest to ever play in an NFL game was James Snyder, who was with the Milwaukee Badgers in 1925 played at age 16. Later, Amobi Okoye was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he entered the league at 19 years of age. Okoye took flight with lofty expectations and even broke in with a solid beginning. His career is only just getting underway, but his tale is a reminder that NFL youth may be either a stepping stone or a stumbling block. Moore is just starting his story and will be hoping to be in the former category.

Giants vs. Patriots: A night of highs and lows

Friday wasn’t bad altogether. With Russell Wilson and most of the starters sitting out, the Giants gave the reins to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. And Dart didn’t bat an eye. He led an opening-drive touchdown against the Patriots and ended with his fourth preseason touchdown overall. He went 6 of 12 for 81 yards and a touchdown in the preseason finale. Once more showing his potential as a developmental quarterback in the queue behind Wilson and Jameis Winston.

The Giants turned the night into a showcase. They beat New England 42-10 and completed an unbeaten preseason for the seventh time in Giants history. Unlike this year, the Giants have never before scored 30-plus points in back-to-back preseason games. Against the Bills (34-25), Jets (31-12), and Patriots (42-10), they tallied 107 points. It truly shows that Daboll’s offense is coming into sync, even as the team shook things up by shuffling players around.

For Moore, the story now changes from plays to recovery timetables. For Dart, it’s ascending a jammed pack depth chart at quarterback. For the Giants, the next test is the roster cutdown deadline and a Week 1 showdown in Washington.