Giants’ Jaxson Dart Expected To Miss Time

The second-year passer lobbied to reenter the game, but the NFL.com duo notes missed time is expected in his case. Dart left the Giants-Rams matchup in the first quarter, giving way to Jameis Winston in a 28-6 loss. New York is 1-1, and long-term Dart health will be the clear priority for John Harbaugh’s team. Harbaugh said postgame (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) the injury is in the neighborhood of an MCL sprain. An MRI is set for Tuesday.

Dart is no stranger to injury issues, having made some trips to the blue medical tent during his short career, but this setback may cost him more time than his 2025 concussion did. Dart missed two games last season because of a head injury. MCL sprains produce varying return timetables. While an IR stint may be too risky the Giants — as it would sideline their starter for at least four games — it probably will not be out of the question.

The Giants beat the Cowboys on the back of a strong Dart showing in Week 1; the Ole Miss product was 23-for-29 for 230 yards with three touchdown passes (to go with 54 rushing yards). They were then overmatched without their starter in Week 2, with the Rams bouncing back from their Australia clunker. Winston is likely to see more time moving forward; the Giants have their Brian Daboll reunion in Week 3 and an Arizona matchup in Week 4. Both are home games.

While Daboll’s new team waits on Cam Ward progress, the Giants have seen encouraging returns on Dart — a player Daboll pushed for in last year’s first round. The former No. 25 overall pick was particularly intriguing as a rushing option last year, gaining 487 yards on the ground. He ranked 17th in QBR last season, going 4-8 as a starter after replacing Russell Wilson in Week 4.

If Dart ends up being placed on IR, he would follow absences against the Titans and Cardinals with ineligibility to face the Commanders and Saints. The Giants had Winston on a two-year, $8MM deal as of March 2025 but gave the high-profile backup an extension (two years, $13MM) that provided an eight-figure guarantee at signing ($12.24MM). The Giants will see the 12th-year QB in action again soon, and such action comes at a cozier point in the team’s season. The Cardinals are 1-1 but in a clear rebuild stage; the 0-2 Titans join them. The Commanders are 0-2 and may not have Jayden Daniels — depending on what the dual-threat passer’s upcoming tests reveal — in Week 5.

Winston, 32, entered last season as the Giants’ third-stringer but usurped Wilson after the starter’s benching. The former Buccaneers No. 1 overall pick was ineffective tonight (11 of 27, 111 yards) but faced one of the NFL’s most talented teams. The Giants’ recent decision to reinvest in the gregarious backup certainly points to confidence in his capabilities as a fill-in starter. Winston’s next start will be the 90th of his career.

On the whole, this has been a rough September for starting quarterbacks. Kyler Murray suffered a Week 1 concussion, while Dart joined Daniels and Caleb Williams in suffering Week 2 injuries. Murray is due back for Week 3, with Daniels and Williams avoiding worst-case outcomes (based on initial testing). But teams’ QB depth is being tested early this year. Winston will accompany Marcus Mariota and, in all likelihood, Tyson Bagent in making a Week 3 start.