Jaxson Dart to have knee surgery, will miss rest of regular season

[p]It is a severe blow to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-giants/lIrBvlxF/"]Giants[/a] after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dart-jaxson/6XThYxRe/"]Dart[/a] excelled in their season-opening win over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-cowboys/S8sFw8iL/"]Dallas Cowboys[/a] and had been widely tipped to thrive under new boss Harbaugh.[/p][p]In the latest of several quarterback injuries early this NFL season, Dart, 23, exited Monday night's loss to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Los Angeles Rams[/a] after his left knee buckled awkwardly following a double tackle by defenders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stewart-kobe/lSg7kBKt/"]Josaiah Stewart[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/young-byron/trndWDit/"]Byron Young[/a].[/p][p]Harbaugh initially expressed hope the quarterback had avoided a "devastating outcome," but by Tuesday admitted Dart and the team were weighing up a major decision concerning the injury.[/p][p]On Wednesday, Harbaugh confirmed the worst with surgery upcoming on his meniscus and medial collateral ligament (MCL).[/p][p]"[b]He's bummed. It's hard. The season's not over, but it is for him,[/b]" Harbaugh said.[/p][p]Harbaugh said Dart is expected to miss the "regular season at least," but appeared to leave the door open to his starting quarterback returning in the post-season if the Giants make it that far.[/p][p]"[b]There's no way to know. It just depends on the recovery. You can't pinpoint it exactly,[/b]" he told reporters.[/p][embed guid="dd67cd3b-3c74-4114-8b89-f14f35ddd88c" url="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2102789091805004092?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]A first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dart showed promising form in his debut season.[/p][p]In beating the Cowboys, he threw 230 passing yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for another 54 yards.[/p][p]Dart was replaced by veteran quarterback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/winston-jameis/vTZW7beB/"]Jameis Winston[/a], who completed just 11-of-27 passes for 111 yards and no touchdowns, two sacks and one interception.[/p][p]Harbaugh backed 32-year-old Winston - a former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-buccaneers/40on8pjK/"]Tampa Bay[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-orleans-saints/lSi5prB1/"]New Orleans[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-browns/KfzTWqa1/"]Cleveland[/a] quarterback who joined the Giants last year - to improve on his rusty Monday showing.[/p][p]"[b]Jameis has been practicing every day. You know, he's taking reps. He knows the offense. He has been in every single meeting,[/b]" said Harbaugh.[/p][p]"[b]He has been engaged every step of the way with everything we're doing. So, from that perspective, it's seamless. It's not ideal at all, but it's definitely seamless.[/b]"[/p][p]Dart's injury is one of several to have struck down NFL quarterbacks in the opening two weeks of the season.[/p][p]On Sunday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/washington-commanders/pYobX5Ul/"]Washington Commanders[/a] quarterback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/daniels-jayden/2u0bLoZ1/"]Jayden Daniels[/a] suffered an elbow injury in his team's loss to the Cowboys while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-bears/2clovUM8/"]Chicago Bears[/a] star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-caleb/pGlNqwYn/"]Caleb Williams[/a] was also injured in a loss to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-vikings/IsfjpsbD/"]Minnesota Vikings[/a].[/p][p]Williams' back-up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bagent-tyson/CKcjgX4Q/"]Tyson Bagent[/a] is also facing a potential spell on the sidelines after being placed in the concussion protocol on Sunday.[/p][p]In week one, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-seahawks/f5h1oOee/"]Seattle Seahawks[/a] quarterback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/darnold-sam/zykWdDh4/"]Sam Darnold[/a] suffered a glute injury while Minnesota's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murray-kyler/8Y4dibci/"]Kyler Murray[/a] suffered a concussion.[/p]