After a Week 1 win over the Cowboys, the Giants felt optimistic about their season outlook.
Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart played well and led the team to victory. The defense held a high-powered Dallas offense to just 20 points. The victory gave fans reason to believe this team could compete for a playoff spot.
However, they faced a very tough test in Week 2. They traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Rams, one of the top teams in the NFL. New York looked overmatched on Monday night, losing 28-6.
But the final score was not the biggest concern coming out of Los Angeles. It was the injury to the Giants’ young quarterback.
Dart’s season is over after further testing revealed a significant knee injury. He suffered damage to his PCL, MCL, and meniscus. The Giants went from feeling good about their season to facing major questions about their future at quarterback.
With their second-year signal caller sidelined for the rest of 2026, is the Giants’ season already over?
Losing Jaxson Dart Changes Everything
The Giants’ biggest concern coming out of Los Angeles is no longer whether Jaxson Dart will miss a few games. He will miss the rest of the season.
Dart sustained the injury on New York’s opening possession and did not return. Further testing revealed that the injury was more serious than initially expected, ending what had been a promising start to his sophomore season.
This is a devastating blow for a Giants team that entered 2026 believing Dart could establish himself as its franchise quarterback. He opened the season by throwing three touchdown passes without an interception in a 28-20 victory over the Cowboys. One week later, his season is over.
Big Blue now has to turn to veteran quarterback Jameis Winston. Winston struggled on Monday night after coming in for Dart. He completed just 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and one interception. New York did not score a touchdown in the game.
Winston will have to lead the Giants offense for the remainder of the season. It will be a major challenge. They built their offense around Dart and his ability to make plays with his arm and his legs. Winston does not have the same mobility. Now, the Giants have to adjust their entire offensive approach with him taking over.
Losing Dart does not mathematically end the Giants’ season. They are still 1-1 and have 15 games remaining. However, it changes the expectations surrounding this team. The question is no longer whether Dart can lead the Giants to the playoffs. It is whether Winston can keep the team competitive enough to remain in the postseason race.
Can Winston Keep the Team Afloat?
Winston’s performance in Week 2 was not encouraging. But that does not mean he can’t perform well going forward.
Winston is a former number one overall pick who has been in the league for 12 seasons. He has nearly 25,000 passing yards in his career. Winston has spent a lot of time as a backup, but he has also shown he can be a capable starter.
Above all, Winston is viewed as a great leader and veteran presence in the locker room. He was voted onto the Giants’ eight-man leadership council before the season. Now, he will have to lead this young Giants team for the rest of the 2026 season.
Some of Winston’s struggles against the Rams can be attributed to a lack of reps with the starters. With Dart sidelined, Winston will have more time to build chemistry with the first-team offense.
Fortunately for Winston, the tea, does have a solid group of playmakers.
Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely, Malachi Fields, and Darnell Mooney give Winston several options in the passing game. They give Winston options at every level of the field. Running back Cam Skattebo can take pressure off of Winston with his ability to churn out yards. If Winston can develop a connection with these players, the Giants could still have a functional offense without Dart.
Additionally, New York needs their defense to step up. Matthew Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns against the Giants in Week 2. New York also struggled against the run. The Rams averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
Another issue has been the lack of pass rush. Big Blue has just one sack in two games. That is the second fewest in the league. The defense will need to make significant improvements if the Giants are going to remain competitive without Dart.
The Giants’ Injury List Keeps Getting Longer
Unfortunately, Dart wasn’t the only Giant to go down in Week 2.
Star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a shoulder injury at the end of the first quarter. He was able to return to the game, but was not effective. Nabers finished with just one catch for one yard on four targets. He said that his shoulder is “OK”, but the Giants will continue to monitor the injury. If he has to miss any time, New York’s offense would take a major hit.
Another player who got injured was left tackle Andrew Thomas. He exited in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. Luckily, his injury is not considered serious, and he has a chance to play in Week 3. Thomas has missed time before with injuries. He is the Giants’ best lineman and they need him to stay on the field. He will be responsible for protecting Winston and helping create lanes for New York’s running backs.
Pass rusher Brian Burns also got hurt in the fourth quarter. Burns suffered a low ankle sprain. He won’t need surgery, but is expected to miss some time. Burns does not have a sack yet this year, but was great in 2025. He had a career-high 16.5 sacks and earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter will have to generate more pass rush in Burns’ absence.
Ultimately, the Giants’ season is not over, but it is very different from the one they envisioned. They entered 2026 expecting Dart to take the next step in his development. Now, his season is over after just two games.
The Giants can still compete, but their margin for error has changed dramatically. Winston, the rest of the offense and the defense will all need to step up if New York hopes to remain in the playoff race in 2026.
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