Giants QB Jaxson Dart to have season-ending knee surgery; ACL intact, full recovery expected
The rookie quarterback's damaged meniscus and MCL will be repaired surgically, ending his 2026 season but clearing the way for a full recovery
The Giants' quarterback situation just lost its centerpiece for the year. Jaxson Dart will have knee surgery that ends his 2026 season but is expected to lead to a full recovery, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report, with the two-week-old starter having solicited opinions on the injury before the decision.
#Giants QB Jaxson Dart is expected to have knee surgery that will lead to a full recovery but end his 2026 season, sources told me and @MikeGarafolo. Dart has been soliciting opinions on the injury. And the ACL is intact. But surgery is coming.View on X →
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet): #Giants QB Jaxson Dart is expected to have knee surgery that will lead to a full recovery but end his 2026 season, sources told me and @MikeGarafolo. Dart has been soliciting opinions on the injury. And the ACL is intact. But surgery is coming.
Dart suffered damage to his meniscus, MCL and PCL in Sunday's loss to the Rams, and while the ACL is intact, the meniscus is the main concern — Garafolo noted the MRI showed worse news than expected, and that full repairs carry a longer recovery but a better long-term outcome.
Harbaugh confirmed the team learned a lot more from testing and called the evaluations ongoing before the damaging result became clear. With Dart out, the season now rests in Jameis Winston's hands, with Jake Haener on the practice squad and Brandon Allen a possible addition behind him — a depth chart set in motion the moment the prognosis changed. Surgery is coming, and with it a clean bill of long-term health for the Giants' developing passer.