Up to date Sept. 23, 2026, 9:45 p.m. ET
The New York Giants took a devastating hit in Week 2.
What initially appeared like a manageable knee damage for quarterback Jaxson Dart throughout Monday evening’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams has turn into season-ending. Additional testing revealed injury to each Dart’s MCL and meniscus, and the second-year quarterback will bear surgical procedure, ending his 2026 season.
For head coach John Harbaugh, it’s a brutal growth simply two video games into his first season because the Giants’ head coach. Dart has proven sufficient early within the 12 months to provide New York hope it has lastly discovered stability at crucial place on the sphere. As an alternative, Harbaugh now has to determine methods to navigate the remainder of the season with out his younger quarterback.
Jameis Winston stepped in after Dart’s damage Monday evening, however the veteran struggled to spark the offense because the Giants sputtered. Now Winston out of the blue finds himself on the heart of “Massive Blue’s” plans, with the season taking a dramatic flip in just some days.
Harbaugh addressed the event Wednesday, discussing Dart’s damage, the choice to maneuver ahead with surgical procedure and what the Giants can anticipate from their quarterback scenario shifting forward.
The Giants’ season has modified. Now, the query is what comes subsequent.
John Harbaugh updates Giants QB room, Jaxson Dart damage
Throughout a press convention on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Harbaugh confirmed to reporters that Dart could be out for the rest of the common season. He stated the second-year quarterback will bear a process on his knee that can knock him out for no less than 16 extra weeks.
Harbaugh didn’t rule out a return for Dart within the postseason, ought to the Giants make it that far with out their beginning quarterback.
Within the meantime, veteran journeyman Jameis Winston can be Massive Blue’s beginning quarterback shifting ahead. Harbaugh re-affirmed his perception in Winston to steer the offense throughout his press convention, although he additionally stated the workforce deliberate to work out quarterbacks to fill out the depth chart within the coming days and weeks.
Requested if the Giants would commerce for a veteran quarterback, Harbaugh stated, “All choices are open.”
Till New York makes one other transfer, the workforce is elevating Jake Haener from the follow squad to function Winston’s backup for Week 3, Harbaugh stated.
Jaxson Dart damage replace
Dart will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after struggling a knee damage in Week 2.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, NFL media insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that the 23-year-old will miss the remainder of the season after he undergoes surgical procedure to restore his knee.
The Giants’ second-year quarterback took successful from two Rams defenders on Monday, Sept. 21 after making a throw on the finish of the Giants’ first drive. Dart appeared to take a blow to his left knee within the hit, and he remained down on the sphere, grabbing his leg after the play.
New York’s beginning quarterback ultimately walked off the sphere on his personal. After a short medical analysis within the Giants’ sideline medical tent, he walked again to his workforce’s locker room with a slight limp and with none assist from trainers.
After X-rays got here again destructive, the preliminary prognosis was a sprained MCL and doubtlessly some missed time. However on Tuesday, Sept. 22, experiences emerged that Dart’s MRIs confirmed extra injury than anticipated to his left knee.
Giants QB depth chart
- Jaxson Dart (out for season – knee)
- Jameis Winston
- Jake Haener (follow squad)
New York solely had two quarterbacks on its lively roster in Week 2 of the 2026 season.
Winston is in his second season because the Giants’ backup quarterback. Haener, the previous Saints’ fourth-round decide in 2023, is on New York’s follow squad after signing with the workforce within the offseason.
USA TODAY Sports activities’ Jack McKessy contributed to this report.
