Dart's first drive ends his season; Giants turn to Winston
A knee injury on the opening possession of Monday's loss to the Rams has sent Jaxson Dart to surgery and ended his regular season, leaving Jameis Winston to start for the 1-1 Giants against the Titans.
Jaxson Dart's season ended almost as soon as the Giants' game against the Rams began. The New York Giants quarterback injured his left knee on the first possession of Monday's 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on 21 September, and a day of medical testing revealed damage far worse than first feared. Per ESPN, an MRI showed damage to the meniscus, MCL and PCL; the ACL is intact. Dart will have surgery and miss the rest of the regular season. Jameis Winston will start against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, per ESPN.
From sprain to season-ending in 24 hours
The diagnosis changed quickly. Harbaugh first described the injury as "in the neighborhood" of an MCL sprain, per NFL.com, and after the initial tests he sounded relieved. "The fact that it's not that outcome that you're talking about, the devastating outcome, is really good news," he said, per ESPN. Initial X-rays were negative, per NFL.com, but the MRI on Tuesday changed the picture: three structures in the knee were involved, not one.
Harbaugh's tone shifted when he spoke again. "I think he's determined," the coach said, per NFL.com. "He's bummed. It's hard. The season is not over, but it is for him."
That 24-hour turn, from a possible sprain to surgery, is what makes the injury so costly. Winston came on in relief and completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with one interception, per ESPN.
The cost to a 1-1 team
The Giants are 1-1 going into Week 3: a 28-20 win over Dallas followed by the defeat in Los Angeles, per NFL.com. Dart had been a big part of that start. Through two games he had completed 26 of 34 passes (76.5%) for 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, per ESPN. He was the 25th overall pick and signed a fully guaranteed four-year rookie contract worth $17 million, per NFL.com.
His 2026 regular season is now over, and surgery will be followed by a recovery measured in months. The Giants expect him to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2027 season, per ESPN. Harbaugh did not rule out a return if the Giants reach the playoffs: "Regular season... Other than that, how do you know? It depends on the recovery," he said, per ESPN.
The injury list is not limited to the quarterback. Linebacker Brian Burns is expected to miss the Titans game with a low ankle sprain that does not require surgery, per ESPN.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Injury | 21 September 2026, opening possession v Rams |
| Initial X-rays | Negative |
| Tuesday MRI | Meniscus, MCL and PCL damage; ACL intact |
| Status | Surgery; out for the 2026 regular season |
| Dart's two-game stats | 26 of 34 (76.5%), 250 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Draft position | 25th overall, first round |
| Rookie contract | 4 years, $17 million, fully guaranteed |
| Expected return | 2027 season |
Winston steps in
Winston signed a two-year, $13 million extension with the Giants on or around 4 September, per ESPN. Less than three weeks later he is the starter.
His relief outing against the Rams was modest: 11 of 27, 111 yards and an interception. Harbaugh made clear he trusts him. "Jameis is one of our guys who obviously is here for a reason. He's a very good football player," the coach said, per ESPN.
Winston kept the focus on results. "The fans want to see wins. It's not about what I'm showing them. It's about us going out there and winning football games together," he said, per ESPN. He also spoke about Dart: "Me and Jaxson have talked. It's pretty fresh, so I'm going to keep on lifting him up. He's a warrior. He's in good spirits," he said, per ESPN.
What Tennessee brings
The Titans are 0-2. They lost 23-10 to the New York Jets in Week 1 and 24-20 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, per ESPN. The first was a 13-point defeat; the second was decided by four points.
For the Giants, the numbers frame the week plainly. A team that scored 28 points in its opening win managed six against the Rams once Dart went off on the first drive. Winston's first start comes against a side that has yet to win, and a victory would take the Giants to 2-1 with their starting quarterback gone for the regular season.