Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium shifted from routine to unsettling in a hurry when Jaxson Dart went down with a frightening knee injury on the New York Giants’ opening possession.
Dart was trying to build on his strong Week 1 showing against the Cowboys when the play unraveled on third down. He dropped back and launched a deep throw for tight end Theo Johnson, but the moment he let it go, he was struck from multiple angles. One of those hits included a knee-to-knee collision that sent him straight to the turf.
Slow-motion video of the play shows the exact instant Dart’s left knee bent the wrong way, a brutal sight that immediately had teammates and staff rushing to him. He eventually got back on his feet and limped off under his own power, first heading to the medical tent and then to the locker room for further evaluation.
The Giants listed Dart as questionable to return, and Jameis Winston stepped in at quarterback. The incompletion to Johnson ended the drive and forced New York to punt, sending the defense onto the field for its first series while the bigger concern stayed centered on Dart.
It’s a tough early setback for a Giants team that opened the season 1-0. Dart had shown dual-threat ability in Week 1, and his absence - even if only temporary - changes the shape of the offense. Winston now takes over as the veteran option while the Giants try to steady things against a talented Rams defense.
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On paper, New York is expected to handle business at home, but the backdrop makes this one more interesting than a standard September date. Player movement has reshaped both sides, and the Giants will be seeing not just a conference opponent, but a collection of people who know the building, the system and in some cases the expectations that come with wearing Giants blue. It is the kind of game that can bring a little extra edge, even if the standings say it should be business as usual. [Read more 🡒]