They say when you have two quarterbacks, you may as well have none. While some see it as an embarrassment of riches, it could be the predicament the New York Giants face in January, when Jaxson Dart's rehab from knee surgery enters its final phase.
Dart was injured in Week 2, underwent surgery, and was given a four-to-six-month recovery period. He was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, but he could conceivably be available should the Giants qualify for the postseason.
Shortly after Dart went down, the Giants traded for another first-round quarterback talent, J.J. McCarthy, who has been lighting up the sky with footballs. The tone in the building has gone from dour to hopeful again.
Why? McCarthy seems to be able to do everything
Dart can do. McCarthy is a perfect fit for the offense the coaching staff designed for Dart.
JJ McCarthy looks exactly like Jaxson Dart pic.twitter.com/lB3oLBzN9x
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) October 23, 2026
The Giants are currently in first place in the NFC East. The postseason is a real possibility for Big Blue. Giants general manager Joe Schoen was asked for an update on Dart's progress during his presser on Tuesday.
"He's doing the best he can," said Schoen. "I know it's tough for him. He's coming to the team meetings. He's back in the quarterback meetings. So he's around. He's not weight-bearing yet. So he's on his crutches. But he's staying as positive as he can.
"He's around, which I think is good, mentally, being around the guys, being around football still. And he still thinks if we make the playoffs that he's going to be able to come back. That's just his mindset. He got hurt in the Rams game. He's in the locker room trying to do pass sets, dying to go back in the game. So, he's one of those guys you appreciate his toughness and grit. And you've got to protect him from himself sometimes. You guys saw the way he played his rookie season. You love the toughness in the competitor. And he's going to come back stronger and better than ever."
Dart wants to play again this season, but the Giants aren't rushing him back. With McCarthy around, there's no need to. They will let the timeline play out and not allow him to return before he gets a clean bill of health. That won't likely be until the Giants are done playing this season.
When Dart does return, he'll be wanting his starting job under center back. McCarthy may not be ready to hand it over. A lot can happen between now and then, but some prominent voices around the league are predicting the Giants could be looking at a serious quarterback competition next summer.
"This is the best I've seen McCarthy play in the NFL."
— Move The Sticks Podcast (@MTSPodOmaha) October 27, 2026
JJ McCarthy was great against the Texans. Self admitted overreaction: It's not out the realm of possibility that the Giants could have a tough QB decision to make after the season.#Giants #GiantsPride #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/1imTs4BlTa
The best thing that could ever happen to the Giants is a QB controversy between Jaxson Dart & JJ McCarthy@ChatSports pic.twitter.com/n9mhqTIoOp
— Marshall Green (@MarshallGreen_) October 26, 2026
McCarthy has only played five quarters, but what a five quarters they've been. One has to wonder why the Minnesota Vikings made him expendable. They cited maturity issues. Really? All we've seen is solid leadership from him so far. It will be the story of the year in the NFL if he leads the Giants deep into January.
In the meantime, Dart will be working his way back. It's a subject no one wants to think or talk about, but it will be looming larger as the season rolls on. For a team that had nothing but hard luck and misery the past decade, who would have thought the football gods would drop not one, but potentially two franchise quarterbacks into their laps?
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart pushing to return this season
