New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart will miss the remainder of the 2026 regular season after suffering a serious left knee injury in Monday night’s 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that Dart will undergo surgery, ending the second-year quarterback’s season just two games into the campaign. The ACL is reportedly intact, but further evaluations found damage involving the MCL, PCL and meniscus, with the meniscus identified as the main concern.
Dart was injured on New York’s opening offensive series at SoFi Stadium. He was hit by Rams linebacker Byron Young from above and Josaiah Stewart from below, causing him to grab his left knee before leaving the field. He completed three of five passes for 20 yards before the injury.
The injury initially appeared less severe. Dart was able to walk off the field and later remained on the sideline in street clothes, while early evaluations reportedly provided some optimism. Additional imaging, however, revealed injuries that will require surgery and keep him out for the rest of the regular season.
Dart had entered the season with significant momentum. In the Giants’ Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to open a season with at least three touchdown passes, 50 rushing yards and a passer rating of 130.
His absence now puts the Giants’ offense in the hands of veteran Jameis Winston. Winston replaced Dart against Los Angeles and completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and an interception while being sacked twice.
Winston has extensive NFL experience, having played 109 regular-season games with 89 starts for Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Cleveland and New York. He also started two games for the Giants in 2025 when Dart was sidelined by a concussion.
The Giants currently have Jake Haener on their practice squad as another quarterback option. Harbaugh has indicated that the team is keeping its options open as it adjusts to losing its starter so early in the season.
New York opened Harbaugh’s first season as head coach with a 28-20 victory over Dallas before falling to the Rams. The Giants are 1-1 and are scheduled to host the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, with Winston expected to take over as the starter.
For Dart, the immediate focus will shift from building on his promising start to recovering from the knee surgery. For the Giants, the challenge is now to navigate the rest of the season without the quarterback who had emerged as a central part of their plans.
