The New York Giants said quarterback Jaxson Dart's knee remains under evaluation after he left Monday night's 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. A report that he could require season-ending surgery has put the team's quarterback plans on hold, with first-year head coach John Harbaugh managing the uncertainty.
Dart's injury occurred on the seventh play from scrimmage of the opening drive at SoFi Stadium, when he took a hit on a 3rd-and-8 dropback, according to Giants.com. He had completed 3 of 5 passes for 20 yards before leaving the game, the team's site reports. Per the Miami Herald, Dart was hit by Rams linebackers Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart while attempting a throw from the pocket, and reportedly wanted to return to the game before New York ruled him out with the knee injury.
The initial expectation was that Dart would miss only a few weeks with an MCL sprain, the Miami Herald reported, while Harbaugh said after the game that the injury was not the outcome the team feared and that more information would come the following day. The Herald later reported that ESPN's Adam Schefter had identified season-ending knee surgery as a possibility after additional evaluation. The Giants have not announced a final decision on Dart's treatment or timetable.
A Historic Start Undone in an Instant
The injury is a jarring reversal for a player who had just authored one of the best statistical debuts a quarterback has ever produced. In the Giants' 28-20 season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys, Dart became the first quarterback in NFL history to open a season with at least three passing touchdowns, 50 rushing yards, and a passer rating of 130 or higher, according to Giants.com. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions that day, the outlet reports.
What the league injury data show
The available leaguewide data do not point to a broad recent increase in injuries or missed games. According to the NFL's 2025 injury-data review, overall injury rates remained stable and the number of games missed because of injury did not rise.
That performance followed a rookie season in which Dart started 12 games and finished fourth in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, compiling 2,272 passing yards, 487 rushing yards, and 24 total touchdowns — including a Giants rookie quarterback record 9 rushing touchdowns, per Heavy Sports. The Giants selected Dart with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss, signing him to a four-year, $16.95 million rookie contract that includes an $8.97 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option, according to NFLTradeRumors.co.
The sudden shift in fortune had already reached the collectibles market before the injury, with Heavy Sports highlighting two high-end 2025 Topps Chrome trading cards featuring Dart.
Rams Linebacker Speaks Out After the Hit
Following the game, Rams Pro Bowl linebacker Byron Young posted a video clip of the play on social media, writing “Never play to hurt anybody,” per Heavy Sports. Young hit Dart from his right side while teammate Josaiah Stewart undercut his legs in the pocket, the outlet reports.
Giants Face a Deepening Injury Crisis
Dart's injury was not the only one to hit New York in Los Angeles. Pass rusher Brian Burns suffered a low ankle sprain, left tackle Andrew Thomas sustained a groin injury, and wide receiver Malik Nabers temporarily left with a shoulder injury, according to Yardbarker. Nabers returned in the first half, while Burns left the stadium in a walking boot and Thomas did not finish the game, per the same outlet.
With Dart sidelined while evaluations continue and no final decision made, the Giants will rely on Jameis Winston at quarterback for now, per the Miami Herald. Winston struggled in relief on Monday night, completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception, according to NBC Sports. The rough outing came as Winston prepared to fill in for Dart.
A Short Week Before Facing Daboll's Titans
The 1-1 Giants now face a short turnaround before hosting the 0-2 Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, adding an unusual wrinkle involving former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who was replaced by Harbaugh. Harbaugh took over the Giants in January on a five-year contract following an 18-year run with the Baltimore Ravens, replacing Daboll after New York finished 4-13 in 2025, as Hoodline previously reported. He won his Giants coaching debut in Week 1 against Dallas.
Whether Winston can steady an offense that just lost its most electric playmaker, or whether New York looks for outside reinforcement at quarterback, is now the pressing question hanging over a franchise that finally seemed to be turning a corner. For the Giants, the stakes attached to Dart's recovery timeline could hardly be higher.
