The worst-case scenario the Giants thought they dodged Monday night is back on the table. Further testing on Tuesday revealed that Jaxson Dart's left knee injury is worse than initially believed, and the Giants and their second-year quarterback are now facing the possibility of season-ending surgery, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo added that the MRI showed more damage than expected and that Dart will be out for an extended period of time.

That is a gut punch for New York, which looked like one of the most dangerous young offenses in football after a Week 1 win over Dallas, and a massive shakeup for fantasy managers who drafted Dart as a breakout QB1. Keep this page bookmarked and track every update on our NFL Injury Report as the Giants finalize a diagnosis.

Jaxson Dart MRI Results: What We Know About the Knee Injury

Here is where things stand as of Tuesday afternoon, September 22:

  • Initial diagnosis: Sprained MCL in the left knee, based on exams Monday night. X-rays at SoFi Stadium came back negative.
  • Tuesday MRI: Revealed an injury worse than anticipated. Rapoport and Garafolo report Dart is out for an extended period of time, possibly the season.
  • Current status: Dart and the Giants are preparing for the possibility of season-ending knee surgery.
  • Official word: The Giants have not yet announced a final diagnosis, surgery decision, or recovery timetable. Head coach John Harbaugh is expected to address reporters.

The swing in tone from Monday to Tuesday is dramatic. After the game, Harbaugh said an MCL sprain was "in the neighborhood" of the diagnosis and called the fact that Dart avoided a devastating outcome "really good news." General manager Joe Schoen told ESPN's broadcast crew that Dart was "going to be OK." The MRI has flipped that optimism on its head, and Schefter called Dart's injury easily the most significant of all the quarterback injuries suffered in Week 2.

 

 

 

How Jaxson Dart Got Hurt on Monday Night Football vs. the Rams

Dart went down on the seventh play of the Giants' opening drive in what became a 28-6 loss at SoFi Stadium. Facing third-and-8, he dropped back and uncorked a deep ball under pressure, and Rams edge rushers Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart sandwiched him as he released it. Stewart's contact drove Dart's left knee inward while he was airborne, and he immediately grabbed at the knee after the incompletion.

Dart finished 3-of-5 for 20 yards on the lone possession. He was evaluated in the sideline medical tent, turned down a cart, and walked to the locker room under his own power. Sources said he tried to get back into the game in the first half, but the Giants held him out, and he was officially ruled out early in the third quarter.

Without him, the offense collapsed. New York was outgained 481 yards to 182, a number that tells you everything about how much this team runs through its young quarterback.

Jaxson Dart Fantasy Football Outlook

This one stings. Dart opened 2026 looking every bit like the league-winning breakout his ADP suggested. In the Week 1 win over the Cowboys, he completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, and added 54 rushing yards on 11 carries. That followed a rookie season in which he threw for 2,272 yards with a 15:5 TD:INT ratio and ran for 487 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games (12 starts).

If the Giants confirm season-ending surgery, Dart is a drop in redraft leagues once your IR spots are full, and you need to be hitting the waiver wire for a replacement immediately. In dynasty, this is a hold. A 23-year-old dual-threat quarterback with a new head coach who believes in him does not lose long-term value over one knee injury, and savvy dynasty managers may even find a buy-low window if a rival panics.

Hold him on IR until the Giants make the diagnosis official. We are dealing with reports right now, not a team announcement, and there is still a chance the final word lands short of a full-season absence.

Need a quarterback replacement now? Check out Fantasy Alarm's Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups 

 

 

 

Jameis Winston Fantasy Football Outlook

Jameis Winston takes over as the Giants' starting quarterback, and his first impression was rough. Replacing Dart on Monday, he completed just 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with an interception, good for a brutal 4.1 yards per attempt. The low point came in the second quarter with New York down 14-0, when he badly underthrew Malik Nabers in the red zone and got picked off.

Here is the thing about Winston, though: he was thrown in cold on the road against a Rams defense that was rolling, and his track record says the volume and the aggression will show up. This is the same quarterback who threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns in Tampa Bay in 2019 (with 30 interceptions, because it is Jameis). In seven starts with Cleveland in 2024, he threw for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns.

His two spot starts for the Giants last season are the best preview of what to expect:

  • Week 11, 2025 vs. Packers: 19-of-29 for 201 yards and an interception, plus a rushing touchdown, in a 27-20 loss.
  • Week 12, 2025 at Lions: 18-of-36 for 366 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, plus a 33-yard receiving touchdown on a trick play, in a 34-27 overtime loss.

That Detroit game is peak Winston. The completion percentage was ugly, but the yardage and the splash plays were there, and it came against a playoff-caliber opponent. For fantasy, that high-variance profile matters more than efficiency.

Jameis Winston Week 3 Matchup vs. Titans

The schedule does Winston a favor right away. The Giants (1-1) host the winless Tennessee Titans (0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium, a far softer spot than the one he walked into Monday night. A full week of first-team practice reps should also help clean up the timing issues that plagued him against the Rams.

In 1QB formats, Winston is a streaming option rather than a locked-in starter. He does not bring the rushing floor Dart provides, so his weekly output will ride entirely on passing volume. Consider him a back-end QB2 with QB1 upside in a plus matchup like this one.

Should You Pick Up Jameis Winston on Waivers?

Superflex and 2QB leagues: Yes, make him a priority add this week. Starting quarterbacks are gold in these formats, and Winston could be under center for the rest of the season if Dart's surgery is confirmed.

1QB leagues: He is worth a look if you rostered Dart without a reliable backup or need a Week 3 streamer. Otherwise, he is a watch-list name who could earn a roster spot with a strong showing against Tennessee.

 

 

 

What Jaxson Dart's Injury Means for Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely and Cam Skattebo

Malik Nabers: Do not panic-sell. Winston is a gunslinger who has historically fed his top receiver, and he supported elite fantasy seasons from Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay. The efficiency will dip, but the target share should remain elite. Nabers also had a shoulder scare Monday but returned to the game and is not expected to miss significant time.

Isaiah Likely: Likely was a massive part of the Week 1 game plan, catching all eight of his targets with two touchdowns from Dart against Dallas. Expect some regression in efficiency with Winston, but he should keep a strong role.

Cam Skattebo: Skattebo is the player who could take the biggest hit from Dart's absence. The Giants' run game thrived in Week 1 with Dart's legs forcing defenses to respect the quarterback keeper. Without that threat, defenses can crowd the box. Skattebo's volume should hold up, but efficiency and goal-line work could suffer if the offense stalls.

Reset your lineups for Week 3: See Fantasy Alarm's Week 3 NFL Rankings

Jaxson Dart Injury FAQ

Is Jaxson Dart out for the season?

Possibly. Following an MRI on Tuesday, September 22, Adam Schefter reported that Dart and the Giants are facing the possibility of season-ending knee surgery. The team has not officially announced a diagnosis or timeline.

What knee injury did Jaxson Dart suffer?

Dart injured his left knee on the Giants' opening drive of their Week 2 Monday Night Football loss to the Rams. It was initially believed to be a sprained MCL, but the MRI revealed the damage was worse than first thought.

Who is the Giants' starting quarterback after the Jaxson Dart injury?

Jameis Winston is the Giants' starting quarterback with Dart sidelined. He is expected to start in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans.

Should I pick up Jameis Winston in fantasy football?

Winston is a priority add in Superflex and 2QB leagues. In 1QB leagues, he is a streaming option for Week 3 against the Titans and a strong add for Dart managers who need a replacement.

Stay ahead of every breaking injury: Follow Fantasy Alarm's NFL News and Injury Updates