The New York Giants could add another quarterback after Jaxson Dart’s potentially season-ending knee injury, with Jameis Winston’s upcoming performance on Sunday potentially influencing the franchise’s next move.
Dart underwent surgery Friday to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee. He is out for the regular season, though coach John Harbaugh left the door open for a late playoff return.
Against that backdrop, ESPN’s Ian Rapoport, Adam Schefter and Mike Garafolo have reported that New York is considering a group of six quarterbacks — Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew II, J.J. McCarthy, Mac Jones, Justin Fields and Brandon Allen — as potential targets to replace Dart as the Giants’ starting quarterback.
“The Giants’ next quarterback is expected to come into focus as early as next week,” Rapoport, Schefter and Garafolo wrote.
Winston will start on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans after completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with an interception in a 28-6 Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“QB2 is now QB1 for New York, and how hard the Giants push to acquire a veteran quarterback will be determined, in part, by how Winston performs Sunday against the Tennessee Titans,” the ESPN reporters wrote.
Garoppolo could provide the simplest addition, according to ESPN, which reported the Giants already spoke with Garoppolo and his representatives this week.
“He might be the Giants’ most intriguing option, because signing Garoppolo would not require giving up a draft pick in a trade,” the ESPN report says.
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ESPN’s report also highlighted McCarthy, Minnesota’s third-string quarterback, saying the Giants have done “legwork” on him. Minshew, meanwhile, played for coordinator Matt Nagy in Kansas City, while Fields currently plays in a similar system.
Finally, Jones went 5-3 while replacing Brock Purdy for San Francisco last season, and Allen spent training camp with New York.
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The Giants believe Winston’s poor Week 2 outing stemmed from entering with a game plan designed around Dart, with New York tailoring Sunday’s offense to Winston as it evaluates whether another quarterback is necessary.
New York hosts Tennessee at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
