Jaxson Dart suffered a worrying moment in the opening quarter after going down and immediately grabbing his leg.
What happened to Jaxson Dart?
The New York Giants quarterback was seen limping toward the sideline before making his way to the medical tent. The 23-year-old quarterback later left the medical tent and was seen limping as he made his way toward the locker room.
Dan Duggan, the Giants reporter for The Athletic, provided an update on Dart’s condition. “Jaxson Dart is out of the tent and limping toward the tunnel to go back to the locker room,” he tweeted on X.
Jameis Winston entered the game after the Giants quarterback was forced out with an injury.
The Giants later confirmed that Dart was dealing with a knee injury and listed him as questionable to return for the remainder of Monday’s game against the Rams.
“Injury Update: QB Jaxson Dart (knee) is questionable to return,” the team announced on X.
Later, Dart was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen also provided an update to ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge, saying Jaxson Dart is “going to be OK,” according to the broadcast.
How did Dart get injured?
Dart tried to get the pass away while hopping and standing upright to evade the Rams defenders closing in on him.
Although he managed to complete the throw, Rams outside linebackers Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart converged on him, sandwiching Dart and sending him to the ground. He landed hard on his left elbow upon impact.
As the Giants confirmed that Dart was dealing with a knee-related issue, video of the play appeared to show Byron Young making contact with the quarterback’s knee, which may have contributed to the discomfort that led to the injury scare.
Fortunately, Dart’s leg was not firmly planted at the moment of contact.
If the Giants determine that further testing is needed, a definitive diagnosis on Dart’s knee may not be available until late Monday night at the earliest.
Former NFL head team physician David J. Chao later weighed in on Jaxson Dart’s injury after reviewing video of the incident, suggesting that the Giants quarterback could be dealing with an MCL sprain.
“Good news for Jaxson Dart: By video, I do not believe he suffered a season-ending ACL tear. The concern is an MCL sprain, an injury likely measured in weeks, not months. The MRI will determine the severity,” Chao tweeted.
Giants QB backup plan
Jameis Winston is next in line behind Dart, bringing 12 seasons of NFL experience to the Giants.
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The veteran quarterback entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 2015 and made two starts for New York last season. His most recent start came in 2024 with Cleveland.