Jaxson Dart’s 2026 season changed quickly after he suffered a left knee injury during the New York Giants’ Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The quarterback initially appeared to avoid a major injury after walking off the field under his own power.
Further testing revealed a much more serious problem. Dart suffered damage to his MCL, PCL and meniscus, although his ACL remains intact. The meniscus is the primary issue requiring surgery.
Jaxson Dart’s Best-Case Scenario for Returning
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Dart is undergoing a full meniscus repair, with doctors also able to address the MCL and PCL if necessary. His recovery is expected to take four to six months.
That timeline puts a potential return around January at the earliest. The 2026 NFL playoffs begin Jan. 16, meaning Dart could theoretically return for the postseason if his recovery progresses toward the shorter end of the projection and the Giants qualify.
Giants coach John Harbaugh has left that possibility open, saying Dart will miss the regular season but that his exact recovery cannot be pinpointed.
Jaxson Dart’s Worst-Case Scenario
The more conservative scenario would keep Dart out through the playoffs and into the offseason. A four-to-six-month recovery could extend into March, depending on how his knee responds to surgery and rehabilitation.
At the moment, the confirmed expectation is that Dart will miss the entire regular season. Jameis Winston has taken over as the starter and will be under center against the Tennessee Titans. Tom Pelissero of The Ringer reported Saturday that Giants GM Joe Schoen is looking at options to add another quarterback.
Dart completed 26 of 34 passes for 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions through two games this season.
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