Giants Quarterback Jaxson Dart Could Miss the Rest of the 2026 Season

A Tough Hit Leads to Uncertainty

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart may be out for the rest of the 2026 season. According to multiple reports, he could need season-ending knee surgery after taking a hit in Monday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The injury happened early in the game. Dart was hit on his right side by Rams outside linebacker Byron Young. The force of the hit pushed him toward Rams linebacker Josaiah Stewart. Dart fell to the ground and grabbed his left knee. Medical staff rushed to his side, and he left the game during the Giants’ first offensive series.

Initial Hope, Then More Bad News

After the game, there was some hope that the injury was not too serious. Head coach John Harbaugh said it was “in the neighbourhood” of a sprained medial collateral ligament. Initial tests on Monday night made the team optimistic that Dart had avoided a major knee injury. But more testing on Tuesday, including an MRI, revealed more significant damage. The team returned to New Jersey, and the results were not as positive as they had hoped.

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Coach Harbaugh Stays Careful With His Words

On Tuesday, Coach Harbaugh spoke to reporters but did not give a clear answer about Dart’s future. He said that evaluations are still ongoing and that no final decisions have been made. When asked if Jaxson Dart could miss the season, Harbaugh said he could not comment until they know for sure what will happen. He also said that he learned a lot more but did not want to share too much until decisions are made. Harbaugh explained that making those decisions takes more than one person. Everyone involved needs to be part of the process. He said that when they know which direction they are going, they will announce it. But until then, he does not want to get ahead of himself.

Harbaugh also said he will not speculate on how serious the injury is. He said it is not his job to be a media person. He said it is not the right thing to do. He wants to wait until decisions are made and they know which way they are going. He said he cannot breach those conversations because that is the trust he has with people. He also pointed out that he is not the person who is hurt and not the doctor. He knows some of the information but not all of it, and he is certainly not in a position to report on it.

Jameis Winston Steps In

Dart was replaced in the game by Jameis Winston. Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards. He also threw an interception. The Giants lost the game 28-6. After the game, Harbaugh was asked about Winston. He said he has absolute faith in all his players. He said that is why all the guys are here. He said Winston is one of their guys and is here for a reason. He called Winston a very good football player.

Dart’s Rookie Season So Far

Jaxson Dart was the 25th overall pick in the 2025 draft. This season, he has thrown for 250 passing yards, which ranks 31st in the NFL. He is tied for 14th with three touchdown passes. All three of those touchdowns came in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants are now 1-1 on the season.

What’s Next for the Giants

With Dart’s future uncertain, the Giants may consider adding another quarterback. Current offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has worked closely with current NFL backups Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields when he was head coach of the Chicago Bears. That connection could be something the team looks at if they decide to bring in another quarterback for depth. 

For now, the Giants will move forward with Winston as their starter. They host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Titans are 0-2 so far this season. The team will continue to evaluate his knee and make a decision when they have all the information. For now, everyone is waiting to see what happens next.