Giants QB Jaxson Dart Needs Season-Ending Knee Surgery

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart will undergo season-ending surgery after tearing his meniscus, MCL and PCL in his left knee, multiple reports said Sept. 23, 2026, including ESPN's Adam Schefter, as reported by NBC News.

How did Dart get hurt?

Dart was sandwiched by multiple Rams defenders while attempting a third-and-8 pass in the first quarter of New York's 28-6 loss at SoFi Stadium on Monday, according to NBC News. A Rams linebacker collided with his left knee on the play, and Dart did not return.

What is Dart's rookie-to-second-season statistical record?

Across his first 14 games and 12 starts, dating to his rookie 2025 season, Dart completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, per NBC News. He also carried the ball for 487 yards and nine rushing touchdowns in that span — production that made him a dual-threat option after New York turned to him following an 0-3 start.

That two-figure split — a 63.7% completion rate paired with nine rushing scores — is why the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft had taken over the starting job from veteran Russell Wilson before Monday's injury, per the same report.

Who starts at quarterback for the Giants now?

Jameis Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, relieved Dart and finished the loss to Los Angeles, NBC News reported. Winston completed 56.1% of his passes in three appearances last season, according to the report, giving New York an experienced but statistically middling fallback option as it navigates the remainder of 2026 without Dart.

Has Dart been injury-prone before this?

Dart, 23, missed two games as a rookie because of a concussion and underwent several additional concussion evaluations that season, per NBC News. In his first game back from that head injury, he absorbed another significant hit against the New England Patriots. Asked in December whether he would soften his playing style, Dart said, "No, look, I understand the question, but this is football. I'm going to get hit if I'm in the pocket or outside the pocket. I feel like I played this way my whole entire life. It shouldn't be any shocker to anybody if you followed along with my career." He added, "We're not playing soccer out here. You're going to get hit. Things happen. It's just part of the game."

What comes next for the Giants' season?

The three-ligament diagnosis — meniscus, MCL and PCL — typically signals an extended recovery window that extends beyond a single NFL season, though NBC News did not report a specific surgery date or return timeline for Dart.

What to watch

• Whether the Giants name Winston the full-time starter or add a veteran quarterback before the next roster deadline.
• The formal surgery date and any announced recovery timeline from the team or Dart's representatives.
• Dart's snap counts and workload trends once healthy, given his 487 rushing yards as a runner-first quarterback.
• Any team statement on financial or roster-building implications tied to Dart's second-year rookie contract status.

For context on other NFL and league-adjacent storylines, see HTT's coverage of the Knicks' single-game ticket release following their own title drought.