The Giants’ Monday night plans changed fast when Jaxson Dart went down on the opening drive against the Rams, and now New York is waiting to find out just how long it may be without the rookie quarterback.
Dart, who turned heads in Week 1 with a strong showing in a win over the Cowboys, immediately reached for his knee after the hit and hobbled off the field. He did not need a cart, which offered at least a small bit of relief, but the scene was still a jolt for a team that had come out of the gate looking promising.
The injury appeared to happen on a third-down throw to Theo Johnson that fell incomplete. Dart took contact from defenders coming in from both sides, and the final hit forced his leg into an awkward bend. One encouraging detail: his leg was not planted when he was struck.
Dart stayed down for several minutes, clutching his left knee, before managing to limp off under his own power. After being checked in the medical tent, he declined the cart and walked back to the locker room. If the Giants decide more testing is needed, they likely won’t have a formal diagnosis until at least late Monday night.
For now, the offense turns to Jameis Winston. The veteran is in his 12th season since going No. 1 overall to the Buccaneers in 2015, and he started two games for the Giants last season. His most recent win as a starter came with the Browns in 2024.
Behind Winston, the emergency No. 3 quarterback is Jake Haener, who cannot enter the game against the Rams unless Winston is also injured.
However long Dart is out, the Giants are going to have to adjust. Winston doesn’t bring the same mobility Dart does, which means New York may need to lean more heavily on Cam Skattebo and the rest of the backfield to move the ball on the ground. It also takes away one more thing defenses have to account for.
Even if Dart comes back quickly, a knee issue could still keep him from being as dynamic as he was before the injury.
There’s also the question of how the passing game holds up. Dart had already shown a strong early connection with Isaiah Likely, but it’s unclear whether Winston will have the same chemistry with the former Ravens tight end, who was not on the roster last season. The Giants will have to sort out whether Likely can still be such a central piece of the offense with a different quarterback running the show.
In Other News...
Giants QB Search Already Hit One Very Public Dead End
The Giants quarterback search has quickly become one of the leagues more watched side stories after Jaxson Darts season-ending knee injury left the team scrambling for answers. Jameis Winston is the current primary option, but the usual swirl of names followed almost immediately, with Shedeur Sanders and Jimmy Garoppolo both surfacing as possible alternatives as New York looks for stability under center.
One of those possibilities, at least publicly, has already gone nowhere. Derek Carr, who retired and has spent his time away from football focusing on personal interests like gaming, has dismissed any notion of a comeback, knocking down the kind of rumor that tends to follow a team when it is searching for help at quarterback. For the Giants, it is a reminder that finding a viable solution may be easier to discuss than to actually secure. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Familiar Quarterback Decision To Make
The Giants are back in the market for quarterback help after Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the season with a knee injury, and the timing has quickly turned a familiar name into a possible solution. One of the options being discussed is a trade for Tommy DeVito, now with the New England Patriots, as the team sorts through how to shore up the spot behind its current starter.
DeVito would bring something the Giants value in this kind of emergency, namely NFL reps and some comfort with the organizations overall environment. He has played in 12 games and made eight starts, completing 65.3 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, which is enough to make him a credible backup candidate while the Giants decide how aggressive they want to be. [Read more 🡒]
Jaxson Dart Gave Giants Fans One Reason To Smile This Week
The Giants got a sobering update on Jaxson Dart this week, with the rookie quarterbacks left knee injury serious enough to require surgery and end his 2026 season. The damage includes his MCL, PCL and meniscus, while the ACL remains intact, and head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Dart will miss the regular season as Jameis Winston steps into the starting role.
Even with the long recovery ahead, there was at least one encouraging note for Giants fans to hang onto: Harbaugh said Dart has a slim chance to return if the team reaches the playoffs. It is hardly the kind of news anyone wanted to be discussing after the injury, but in a season suddenly without its young quarterback, even a small opening can feel meaningful. [Read more 🡒]