Jaxson Dart MCL Injury: Giants QB Believed to Have Sprained Left Knee
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is believed to have suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee during Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The initial diagnosis comes from NFL Network sources following Dart’s early exit from the Giants’ 28-6 defeat at SoFi Stadium. X-rays were negative, but Dart was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.
The injury is another setback for the Giants after Dart helped the team open the 2026 season with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Jaxson Dart Injured On Giants’ First Drive
Dart’s injury happened during New York’s opening possession.
The quarterback was attempting a pass when Rams defenders Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart made contact with him. Dart’s left knee appeared to buckle as he was hit, and he immediately grabbed the knee while remaining on the field.
Medical personnel attended to Dart before he was able to walk off under his own power.
He was evaluated in the medical tent before heading to the locker room. The Giants later ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Dart completed three of five passes for 20 yards before leaving the contest.
Giants Await MRI Results
Giants head coach John Harbaugh did not officially confirm that Dart suffered an MCL sprain after the game.
However, Harbaugh indicated that the reported diagnosis was close to what the team was seeing during its initial evaluation.
“That’s in the neighborhood of it,” Harbaugh said, according to NFL.com.
Harbaugh added that the MRI would provide a much clearer picture of the injury.
The negative X-ray was encouraging because it ruled out an obvious bone injury, but additional imaging is needed to determine the severity of the ligament problem.
Joe Schoen Says Dart Will Be OK
Giants general manager Joe Schoen provided an optimistic early update during the game.
Schoen told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge that Dart was “going to be OK.” Dart was also able to return to the sideline in street clothes after halftime.
However, the Giants have not announced a timetable for his return.
Reports indicate Dart is expected to miss some time, but the length of his absence will depend on the MRI results and the grade of the MCL injury.
Jameis Winston Replaces Dart
Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston took over after Dart was injured.
Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and one interception as the Giants struggled to generate offense against Los Angeles.
The Rams eventually pulled away behind quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw four touchdown passes in the 28-6 victory. Davante Adams caught two of those touchdowns and finished with eight receptions for 195 yards.
The Giants scored only two field goals after Dart left the game.
Giants Face Questions At Quarterback
Dart’s injury creates immediate questions about the Giants’ quarterback situation heading into Week 3.
The second-year quarterback entered the season with significant expectations after a strong rookie campaign. He opened the 2026 season by completing 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns in New York’s win over Dallas.
Dart also recorded 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 games during his rookie season.
The Giants will now wait for the MRI before determining how long they will have to rely on Winston.
For now, the reported MCL sprain represents a potentially significant injury, but the team has reason for optimism following the negative X-rays and Dart’s ability to leave the field under his own power. The MRI should provide the clearest update on his condition and recovery timeline.
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