Locals in the NFL: Jaxson Dart could face season-ending knee surgery
Sep 22, 2026, 8:48 PM | Updated: Sep 24, 2026, 11:22 am
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Byron Young #0 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants after a pass during the first quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium on September 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Initial optimism about Jaxson Dart’s knee injury has faded, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that the New York Giants quarterback could need season-ending surgery after further testing.
Multiple outlets reported that Dart could be facing season-ending knee surgery as the team seeks more information.
The injury threatens to cut short his second NFL season just as he settles into his role as New York’s starter. The Giants have not announced a final decision on surgery or a return timeline.
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Dart was injured on the Giants’ opening drive against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Rams defenders Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart combined on a hit after Dart released a pass downfield. He remained on the turf, clutching his left knee.
Giants coach John Harbaugh declined to provide a definitive update on Dart’s status.
“Evaluations are ongoing,” Harbaugh said. “We haven’t got any final decisions yet. We’ve learned a lot more. I wouldn’t want to share too much until decisions get made.”
Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston is expected to start in Dart’s absence.
For now, New York is preparing to move forward with Winston while Dart’s recovery plan remains unsettled.
About Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart threw for 4,691 yards and a state-record 67 touchdowns at Corner Canyon in 2020 before heading to USC as a four-star recruit.
After one season with the Trojans, he transferred to Mississippi, where he threw for 10,617 yards and 72 touchdowns across three seasons. The Rebels went 28-10 in his starts.
Dart began his rookie NFL season behind Russell Wilson, but New York turned to him in Week 4 after an 0-3 start.
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He appeared in 14 games, including 12 starts, finishing with 2,272 passing yards and 15 touchdowns while completing 63.7% of his passes.
Monday’s early exit shifted attention from Dart’s next step as the Giants’ starter to his immediate health. For fans who first watched him at Roy and Corner Canyon, the next meaningful update will be whether he can return to the field.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team.
