New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is facing the possibility of season-ending surgery after MRI scans on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, revealed his left knee injury to be considerably more serious than the franchise had initially believed, according to reports from NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who added that surgery which would end Dart’s campaign was now under consideration.
The 23-year-old second-year starter suffered the injury on the seventh play of the Giants’ opening possession during their 28-6 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams on the night of Monday, 21 September. Rams linebacker Byron Young struck Dart on his right side, sending the quarterback into linebacker Josaiah Stewart, who undercut his legs and caused his left knee to bend awkwardly as he fell. Dart immediately clutched the knee and was assessed in the sideline medical tent before walking slowly to the locker room under his own power — a detail that, at the time, was treated by the Giants as a mildly encouraging sign.
The initial diagnosis suggested a sprained medial collateral ligament. Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after the game that the team appeared to have avoided what he called the devastating outcome, characterising the injury as being in the neighbourhood of an MCL sprain. Giants general manager Joe Schoen, speaking to ESPN during the broadcast, said Dart was going to be OK. Both men expected a Tuesday MRI to provide clearer guidance.
Tuesday scans deepen concern
That guidance proved far less reassuring than the Giants had hoped. Multiple reports citing informed sources indicated the imaging showed damage well beyond the initial MCL diagnosis, leaving the franchise confronting the prospect of losing their starting quarterback for the rest of the 2026 season. Schefter specifically reported that season-ending surgery was a real possibility.
Harbaugh addressed reporters on Tuesday shortly after those reports surfaced. He confirmed that evaluations were ongoing and that no final decisions had been reached, saying the team had learned considerably more about the injury but was not prepared to share details until everyone involved had agreed on a course of action. Asked directly about the possibility of Dart missing the remainder of the season, Harbaugh declined to confirm or deny the reports, stating the franchise had to prepare for the range of possibilities. He said an announcement would follow once the process was complete.
Winston called upon
Veteran backup Jameis Winston is expected to start for the Giants for the foreseeable future, beginning with Sunday’s home fixture against the Tennessee Titans. Winston entered the Monday night game after Dart’s exit, completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and an interception in difficult circumstances. The Giants had shown sufficient faith in the former 2015 number-one overall pick to award him a two-year, $13 million contract extension earlier in September, according to NFL Network and ESPN, securing a trusted second option. Winston previously started two games for the Giants in 2025 in place of Dart, losing both in one-score margins against Green Bay and Detroit. Quarterback Jake Haener is also available on the practice squad as an additional option.
The competitive cost of Dart’s absence is difficult to overstate given how brightly he had begun the campaign. In the Giants’ Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns — a performance CBS Sports described as the best of his career by passer rating, and one that suggested genuine development from a promising rookie season. New York had entered Week 2 at 1-1 under Harbaugh in his first season in charge.
Further injuries compound the damage
Dart’s injury was not the only significant blow sustained on Monday night. According to Sky Sports NFL, top pass rusher Brian Burns sprained his left ankle, left tackle Andrew Thomas suffered a lower-body injury in the fourth quarter, and wide receiver Malik Nabers temporarily dislocated his right shoulder during the first quarter. Harbaugh acknowledged the accumulation of setbacks but, as reported by Sky Sports, said the organisation could not allow itself to be discouraged, noting that injuries were a shared reality across the NFL.
What lies ahead
Should Winston be required to carry the Giants’ offence for an extended run, the schedule offers some encouragement. ESPN noted that New York’s next four opponents include the Titans, currently 0-2, the Arizona Cardinals at 1-1, and the Washington Commanders, who are also 0-2 and have lost their own starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, to a dislocated left elbow sustained in Week 2 with no confirmed return date. CBS Sports observed that if the Giants are compelled to play the entire season without Dart, it risks becoming a lost year for a team that had shown genuine early-season promise.
NFL Network noted that Monday’s hit occurred while Dart was under pressure in the pocket rather than during any scramble, making it distinct from risks typically associated with his aggressive running style. The Giants are expected to confirm a timeline and announce a decision on Dart’s treatment once their medical evaluation is complete and all parties have agreed on how to proceed.