Giants Quarterback Jaxson Dart to Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart will undergo knee surgery, officially ending his 2026 season. The decision follows an MRI that revealed the injury sustained on Monday night was more significant than an initial diagnosis of a sprained MCL suggested.

Dart, 23, was injured on the opening drive of the Giants' loss to the Rams and immediately appeared to be in significant pain. Although he initially seemed to want to return to the game, medical staff prevented him from doing so. Reports indicate that Dart sought multiple opinions on the injury, but the consensus ultimately led to the decision for surgery to ensure a full recovery.

Dart's injury adds him to a growing list of major quarterbacks sidelined early in the NFL season, including Sam Darnold, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Kyler Murray, and Tua Tagovailoa. The Giants currently do not have a third-string quarterback on their active roster but could elevate Jake Haener from the practice squad to serve as backup to starter Jameis Winston.

Winston, who signed a two-year, $13 million contract before the season, was also in the news during the offseason for working as a World Cup correspondent for Fox Sports. The Giants' loss to the Rams was marked by multiple injuries and a lopsided 28-6 scoreline.

In addition to Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers and defensive player Brian Burns also sustained injuries during the game. This setback follows a strong Week 1 performance against the Dallas Cowboys, where Dart threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 54 yards.

Dart was expected to build on a promising, albeit injury-affected, rookie season. In his first year, he played in 14 games, starting 12, and recorded 2,272 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, along with 487 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He was selected by the Giants with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.