Jaxson Dart Out For Season With Knee Injury, Latest NFL Rumors on Giants QB's Timeline to Return

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart will reportedly undergo season-ending knee surgery, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo .

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the second-year star "suffered damage to his MCL, PCL and meniscus." The Giants expect Dart "to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2027 season, sources told Rapoport," per ESPN's Jordan Raanan .

Fans were a little encouraged when they saw Dart return to the sidelines — in street clothes — during New York's 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. He reportedly lobbied to get back into the game, too.

Two days later, however, the severity of Dart's injury became clear .

It's hard to overstate how bad this is for the Giants in the short and long terms.

Backup quarterback Jameis Winston struggled mightily against the Rams, finishing 11-of-27 for 11 yards and an interception. They're now facing the prospect of making Winston the starter and promoting Jake Haener from their practice squad.

Looking beyond 2026, Dart is a franchise QB who will have made 16 appearances through his first two years. That's not ideal any way you cut it, especially when the 2025 first-round pick was considered a project who needed time to develop in the pros.

Assuming he's healthy, Dart will be the Giants' QB1 to open next season. But a major knee injury is a clear setback to him making the improvements necessary to evolve into a top-tier quarterback.

New York will also have a smaller sample from which to judge his value when it comes time to consider an extension.