Jaxson Dart Could Miss Rest of Season After Knee Injury, Giants Turn to Jameis Winston

Giants Quarterback Faces Extended Absence

The New York Giants could be without quarterback Jaxson Dart for the remainder of the 2026 NFL season after further testing revealed that his knee injury is more serious than initially anticipated. Dart suffered the injury during the opening possession of Monday night’s 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo that Dart is expected to miss an extended period and is facing the possibility of season-ending surgery. The news comes after Giants head coach John Harbaugh said following the game that New York had likely avoided a “devastating outcome” with Dart’s knee.

Dart Injured on Giants’ Seventh Snap

Dart was injured on the Giants’ seventh snap when Rams linebacker Byron Young hit the quarterback from his right side. The contact sent Dart into linebacker Josaiah Stewart, who undercut Dart’s legs and caused him to take a hard fall. Dart immediately grabbed his left knee and headed to the blue medical tent. He later walked to the locker room with a noticeable limp.

The second-year quarterback was initially listed as questionable to return before being officially ruled out early in the third quarter. The injury is a major setback for a Giants team that entered the season with optimism surrounding Dart after his impressive rookie campaign.

Jameis Winston Expected to Take Over

With Dart facing an extended absence, the Giants are expected to turn to veteran quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston struggled after replacing Dart against Los Angeles, completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and an interception.

Despite the difficult performance, New York recently demonstrated its confidence in Winston by signing him to a two-year, $13 million contract extension earlier this month. The Giants also have quarterback Jake Haener on their practice squad, but Winston is expected to handle the starting role while Dart is sidelined.

Dart Had Made Strong Start to Season

Dart, 23, had shown significant promise since entering the league and was coming off an outstanding performance in New York’s season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Against Dallas, Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards.

His performance helped establish him as a key part of the Giants’ plans in Harbaugh’s first season as head coach. Now, the Giants will have to adjust those plans with Dart’s availability uncertain for the remainder of the season.

Giants Face Favorable Stretch of Schedule

The timing of Dart’s injury is particularly significant with the Giants entering what appears to be a favorable stretch of their schedule. New York hosts the Tennessee Titans, who are 0-2, at the Meadowlands on Sunday. The Titans feature former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator.

The Giants then travel to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4 before visiting the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Washington is also dealing with a major quarterback injury after Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow. New York then returns home for a Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who enter Week 3 at 1-1.

For the Giants, the focus now shifts to Winston and finding a way to remain competitive while Dart begins the recovery process. With the possibility of season-ending surgery still on the table, New York could be facing a significant quarterback change just two weeks into Harbaugh’s first season.