Jaxson Dart Injury Update: How Many Games Will Giants QB Miss?

Jaxson Dart suffered a suspected MCL sprain against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. How many weeks will the New York Giants quarterback be sidelined?

by Ayomide Adeduyite

Sep 22, 2026

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) warms up prior to a game.

Rich Storry-Imagn Images

Jaxson Dart’s night ended early Monday as the New York Giants suffered a 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

The second-year quarterback went down on New York’s opening possession after taking a hit from Rams defenders Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart. Dart’s left knee bent awkwardly on the play, and he immediately grabbed it while remaining on the field for several moments.

Dart initially walked off under his own power and was evaluated by the Giants’ medical staff before heading to the locker room. He was later ruled out for the rest of the game, finishing 3-of-5 passing for 20 yards.

Jaxson Dart Expected to Miss Time With Suspected MCL Sprain

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) drops to throw during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported after the game that Dart is believed to have suffered a sprained MCL based on the initial examinations. His X-rays were negative, and the Giants were scheduled to conduct an MRI Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh did not officially confirm the MCL diagnosis after the loss. When asked about the report, Harbaugh said the injury was “in the neighborhood” of an MCL sprain and that the MRI would give the team a better idea of what Dart is dealing with.

Dart is expected to miss some time, but the Giants have not set a fixed timeline for his return as of this writing. A typical MCL sprain can sideline an NFL player for around four to six weeks, depending on the severity.

If Jaxson Dart’s MCL sprain falls in the typical four-to-six-week range, he could miss Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, plus matchups against the Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints, with a potential return around Week 7 against the Houston Texans. If the recovery takes closer to six weeks, his return could instead come after the Giants’ Week 8 bye, making the Week 9 game against the Philadelphia Eagles the more realistic target.

However, these timelines should not be treated as Dart’s official timetable until the Giants receive the MRI results and determine the grade of the injury.

Giants Have No Fixed Timeline for Jaxson Dart’s Return

The earliest indication is that Dart is unlikely to be available for Sunday’s game against the Titans. The Giants have a short turnaround after Monday night’s game, and the quarterback will first need to complete his evaluation and begin the recovery process.

New York will have to lean on Jameis Winston while Dart is sidelined. Winston replaced Dart against Los Angeles and completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and one interception as the Giants struggled to generate offense after their starting quarterback exited.

There is some reason for optimism that Dart avoided a season-ending injury. General manager Joe Schoen told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge during the game that Dart was “going to be OK,” while Harbaugh also emphasized after the loss that the injury did not appear to be the devastating outcome the team initially feared.

The Giants are waiting on the MRI before putting a firm timetable on their quarterback. If the injury is confirmed as a standard MCL sprain, a four-to-six-week absence is a reasonable estimate, but Dart’s actual return date will depend on the severity of the sprain and his recovery.