Eli Manning didn’t need to say much to make his feelings clear on Monday night.
While hosting ESPN’s ManningCast for the Giants’ matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, Manning watched Jaxson Dart go down with a knee injury and fell silent in a way that said plenty. The former Ole Miss and Giants quarterback, seeing another player who followed the same path to the NFL, sat in disbelief for about 30 seconds as the replay rolled.
Peyton and Eli were doing their usual back-and-forth during the first quarter while the Giants tried to move the ball, but that changed fast once Dart was on the ground. Eli appeared to mutter one word and wince at the replay of the hit that knocked Dart out of the game. He eventually noted that Dart seemed to have been hit "high [and] low," but the concern was obvious even without many words.
That reaction only reinforced how deep Manning’s Ole Miss and Giants ties still run. Watching him respond to Dart’s injury made it clear that this one hit landed differently.
The good news is Dart reportedly avoided a serious injury and is expected to be back in roughly 2-4 weeks. Still, the Giants have work to do at quarterback in the meantime.
Jameis Winston took over for Dart but struggled badly, finishing 11-of-27 for 111 yards and one interception. The next stretch now belongs to the Giants and head coach John Harbaugh as they figure out how to handle the position.
In Other News...
Giants Fans Immediately Had One Big Fear After Jaxson Dart Went Down
Jaxson Darts night took an early turn at SoFi Stadium when the Giants quarterback went down with a knee injury on the opening offensive drive of Monday Night Football. Dart was hit as he let a pass go, then limped off the field before being listed as questionable to return, putting a quick jolt into a game that had barely started.
Jameis Winston stepped in at quarterback, but for Giants fans the larger concern was immediate: any setback to Dart carries obvious weight for a team trying to find stability under center. Even before the training staff had much time to sort out the injury, the attention around the sideline had already shifted from the drive itself to what comes next for a young quarterback the Giants can least afford to lose for long. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Face A Bigger Jaxson Dart Concern Than This Game
Jaxson Darts early exit against the Rams quickly became the biggest storyline of the Giants Week 2 afternoon. The rookie quarterback went down with a knee injury in the first quarter, then was officially listed as questionable to return after leaving the field under his own power and heading to the medical tent.
Jameis Winston took over at quarterback, but the larger concern for New York is what Darts knee issue could mean beyond this one game. Anytime a young passer has to come off the field that early, the immediate result matters less than the next check on his health, and the Giants are left waiting for a clearer picture. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Already Be Avoiding An Early Draft Regret Conversation
Early returns on any draft class can be tricky, and the Giants are already getting a first look at how their 2026 first-rounders Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa are settling in. The opening stretch has shown some growing pains, which is hardly unusual this time of year, but it also serves as an early reminder that the margin between a smart pick and an uncomfortable debate can narrow fast once the games begin.
The bigger picture is even more interesting because New York had plenty of other names in the mix, including Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, Mansoor Delane and Jeremiyah Love, each of whom brings a different kind of appeal depending on how the board falls and how the season unfolds. With only limited tape to work from, the evaluation is still very much in motion, which means the Giants may not know for a while whether theyve already sidestepped a draft-day regret or simply postponed the conversation. [Read more 🡒]