Giants’ Jaxson Dart to Undergo Knee Surgery, Miss Rest of Regular Season

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart will undergo surgery on his left knee and miss the rest of the regular season, coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. The procedure follows an injury Dart suffered early in Monday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Harbaugh did not rule out the possibility that Dart could return if the Giants reach the playoffs. The postseason begins in a little less than four months.

“I think I said it. I said it. Regular season,” Harbaugh said of how long Dart would be out. “Other than that, how do you know? It depends on the recovery. You can’t pinpoint it.”

Dart’s ACL is intact, but the second year star has meniscus and MCL damage that requires surgery, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Sources also told Schefter that Dart has damage to his PCL.

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The Giants expect Dart to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2027 season, sources told Rapoport. Harbaugh declined to provide a date for the surgery, but a source told ESPN that it was expected to happen relatively soon.

Dart was at the Giants’ facility Wednesday. He attended meetings and spent time around the locker room as the team continued preparing without him.

The injury occurred during the opening possession of Monday’s 28-6 loss. On the Giants’ seventh snap, Rams linebacker Byron Young hit Dart on his right side and sent him into linebacker Josaiah Stewart, who undercut the quarterback’s legs.

Dart fell hard and immediately grabbed his left knee before going to the blue medical tent. He later walked with a limp to the locker room and was officially ruled out early in the third quarter.

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The Giants initially hoped Dart had avoided a long term injury. Harbaugh said Monday that the team probably escaped “a disastrous outcome,” but imaging performed Tuesday revealed more extensive damage than expected.

After exhausting their options and seeking additional opinions, Dart and the Giants elected to proceed with surgery. The procedure to repair a torn meniscus and MCL has an approximate recovery timeline of six months, according to sources.

Had Dart torn his ACL, he probably would have faced a recovery of at least nine months. His intact ACL did not prevent the other damage from ending his regular season.

“I think he’s determined. He’s bummed. It’s hard,” Harbaugh said. “The season is not over, but it is for him.”

The Giants are supporting Dart as he begins dealing with the injury. Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston has spoken with Dart and will replace him as the starter beginning Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

“It’s pretty fresh, so I’m going to keep on lifting him up. He’s a warrior. He’s in good spirits. He’s, again, focusing on what he would love, and that’s healing,” Winston said. “And all of us are going to just wrap our arms around him and lift him up.”

The Giants are 1-1 and will now turn to Winston, who struggled after replacing Dart against the Rams. Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and an interception.

Harbaugh expressed confidence Tuesday in Winston’s ability to serve as New York’s long term replacement under center. He officially named Winston the starter Wednesday.

Jake Haener is the other healthy quarterback on the Giants’ roster. Haener is currently on the practice squad and is slated to serve as the backup against Tennessee, but Harbaugh said the Giants plan to add another quarterback, preferably a veteran.

The Giants will explore signing a free agent or adding a quarterback from another team’s practice squad. A trade also remains under consideration.

New York is also expected to be without standout outside linebacker Brian Burns against the Titans, a source told Schefter. Burns is likely to miss time with a low ankle sprain suffered against the Rams, though the injury will not require surgery.

Dart, 23, flashed promise as a rookie last year. He was outstanding in New York’s season opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys, completing 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 54 yards.

“The fans want to see wins,” Winston said. “It’s not about what I’m showing them. It’s about us going out there and winning football games together, giving them something to cheer for, giving them something to stand behind.”

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