The New York Giants will be without Jaxson Dart for the rest of his second NFL season after the quarterback suffered injuries to his left MCL and meniscus against the Los Angeles Rams. Dart is expected to undergo season-ending knee surgery, ending a campaign that began with a Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys and optimism surrounding new head coach John Harbaugh.
Dart was hurt on New York’s opening possession of its Week 2 Monday night game, five plays into the contest. Rams edge rushers Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart brought him down on a third-down dropback, with Dart taking contact high and low 3.1 seconds after the snap. Additional testing confirmed the seriousness of the knee injury after early hopes that he had avoided a long-term absence.
The loss is a major setback for a Giants team attempting to climb after totaling seven victories across the previous two seasons. Dart had impressed in the opener against Dallas and was viewed internally as a quarterback capable of developing into one of the league’s top players.
What changed for the franchise
Veteran Jameis Winston is set to take over as the starter, beginning with the challenge of helping the Giants recover from their 28-6 loss to the Rams. Winston did not provide much of a spark in relief Monday, posting a 17.2 QBR and rushing for one yard in more than three quarters of action.
Harbaugh expressed confidence in the 32-year-old quarterback, saying Winston is on the roster for a reason and calling him “a very good football player.” The Giants had already shown their belief in Winston by giving him a two-year, $13 million extension earlier this month.
Still, the offense will require adjustments. Dart’s mobility had been built into the attack, including elements that supported the traditional ground game. Winston does not offer the same running threat, so offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and the coaching staff will likely need to lean more heavily on the physical running game while limiting situations that demand too much from the veteran passer.
Winston has a 36-53 career record as a starter and has long paired high-level downfield throws with costly misses and interceptions. The Giants will need steadier quarterback play if they are to remain relevant in the playoff race.
Jake Haener, added during the summer, is now Winston’s backup. New York could also explore bringing back veteran Brandon Allen. The club may evaluate outside quarterback options, although the available market is limited. Jimmy Garoppolo is a notable free agent, but his interest in continuing his career is uncertain. A trade inquiry involving Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy could also be considered, with McCarthy currently low on the Vikings’ depth chart and not believed by some teams to be part of Minnesota’s long-term plans.
The Giants do not view Dart’s injury as reason to reconsider his standing as their quarterback of the future. Although he spent significant time in the medical tent as a rookie, he missed only two games because of a concussion. This injury came on a conventional passing play rather than as a result of his running style, and the organization remains confident in his approach to rehabilitation and football preparation.
New York’s outlook, however, has shifted sharply. The Giants entered Week 2 at 1-0 with a 43% projected chance to reach the playoffs. That figure has fallen to 1%, while the team has dropped to 32nd in the Football Power Index rankings. The same projection gives New York an 11% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in April.
The quarterback change also places greater responsibility on the Giants’ skill players. Malik Nabers remains the leading target and could benefit from Winston’s tendency to focus on his top receiver, though the passing game may become less consistent week to week. Tight end Isaiah Likely and running back Cam Skattebo should remain central pieces, with Skattebo potentially seeing a larger workload if New York commits further to the run.
