The New York Giants took a devastating hit in Week 2.
What initially seemed like a manageable knee injury for quarterback Jaxson Dart during Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams has become season-ending. Further testing revealed damage to both Dart’s MCL and meniscus, and the second-year quarterback will undergo surgery, ending his 2026 season.
For head coach John Harbaugh, it’s a brutal development just two games into his first season as the Giants’ head coach. Dart has shown enough early in the year to give New York hope it has finally found stability at the most important position on the field. Instead, Harbaugh now has to figure out how to navigate the rest of the season without his young quarterback.
Jameis Winston stepped in after
Dart’s injury Monday night, but the veteran struggled to spark the offense as the Giants sputtered. Now Winston suddenly finds himself at the center of "Big Blue's" plans, with the season taking a dramatic turn in just a few days.
Harbaugh addressed the development Wednesday, discussing Dart’s injury, the decision to move forward with surgery and what the Giants can expect from their quarterback situation moving ahead.
The Giants’ season has changed. Now, the question is what comes next.
John Harbaugh updates Giants QB room, Jaxson Dart injury
During a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Harbaugh confirmed to reporters that Dart would be out for the remainder of the regular season. He said the second-year quarterback will undergo a procedure on his knee that will knock him out for at least 16 more weeks.
Harbaugh did not rule out a return for Dart in the postseason, should the Giants make it that far without their starting quarterback.
In the meantime, veteran journeyman Jameis Winston will be Big Blue's starting quarterback moving forward. Harbaugh re-affirmed his belief in Winston to lead the offense during his press conference, though he also said the team planned to work out quarterbacks to fill out the depth chart in the coming days and weeks.
Asked if the Giants would trade for a veteran quarterback, Harbaugh said, "All options are open."
Until New York makes another move, the team is elevating Jake Haener from the practice squad to serve as Winston's backup for Week 3, Harbaugh said.
Jaxson Dart injury update
Dart will miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a knee injury in Week 2.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, NFL media insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that the 23-year-old will miss the rest of the season after he undergoes surgery to repair his knee.
The Giants' second-year quarterback took a hit from two Rams defenders on Monday, Sept. 21 after making a throw at the end of the Giants' first drive. Dart appeared to take a blow to his left knee in the hit, and he remained down on the field, grabbing his leg after the play.
New York's starting quarterback eventually walked off the field on his own. After a brief medical evaluation in the Giants' sideline medical tent, he walked back to his team's locker room with a slight limp and without any help from trainers.
After X-rays came back negative, the initial prognosis was a sprained MCL and potentially some missed time. But on Tuesday, Sept. 22, reports emerged that Dart's MRIs showed more damage than expected to his left knee.
Giants QB depth chart
- Jaxson Dart (out for season – knee)
- Jameis Winston
- Jake Haener (practice squad)
New York only had two quarterbacks on its active roster in Week 2 of the 2026 season.
Winston is in his second season as the Giants' backup quarterback. Haener, the former Saints' fourth-round pick in 2023, is on New York's practice squad after signing with the team in the offseason.
USA TODAY Sports' Jack McKessy contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Harbaugh provides updates on Jaxson Dart surgery, Giants' QB options
