Giants QB Jaxson Dart To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery As Fans Shed Tears

It was all good just a few weeks ago for New York Giants fans.

The club had a new, established coach in John Harbaugh, a fiery young quarterback in Jaxson Dart, and nostalgic aura farming thanks to returning wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

In Week 1, they posted a promising, dominant 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

But it all fell apart in the first series of the Los Angeles Rams game, when Dart got jammed up between two linemen and immediately fell to the ground, grabbing his left knee.

Fans were initially hopeful because, despite a limp, he walked to the sideline on his own. But now it’s been confirmed that he suffered a season-ending injury. 

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dart’s injury includes damage to his left MCL, PCL, and meniscus. There isn’t any ACL damage, but to repair the other ligaments, he’s gonna need season-ending surgery.

Despite the promising start for the Giants going up in flames, coach Harbaugh knows it’s next man up and is immediately looking at the rest of the season and his team’s postseason chances. 

“I think I said it, yeah. I said it – regular season. Other than that, how do you know? There’s no way to know. It just depends on the recovery. You can’t pinpoint it exactly,” Harbaugh said after Wednesday’s practice.

After Dart’s exit, veteran Jameis Winston took over during the painful 28-6 loss. It wasn’t too surprising, since the offense prepared a game plan for Dart, so Winston’s takeover was a shakeup.

But now that they know Winston is QB1, their focus has shifted and they’re not giving up on the season just two weeks in.

“To me, a big part of it is building a game plan now for Jameis,” Harbaugh said. “He’ll be the starter. So, build a game plan for Jameis to suit his skill set. The game plan this last week was built for Jaxson, obviously. This will be an opportunity to do that, and that’s exactly what we’ll do. We’ll build around all the things that he does well that are in the offense, which there’s plenty in the offense, and of course how to attack Tennessee and their defense and what they do.”

Winston, who signed his contract with the Giants five days before the season began, is excited to take over in his second NY season. Having started two games last year, he’s now taking it game by game. 

“But for this game alone, my focus is on being my very best, going out there and having elite fundamentals and precise execution…No matter how big it may seem, being present and focused on doing all that you can do with what you have, with where you are. For right now, that’s keeping Jaxson’s spirits uplifted and going out there on that football field and being the New York Football Giants starting quarterback right now.”

Winston’s first game will be at home against the 0-2 Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon.

See social media’s reaction to Dart’s injury and the Giants’ hopes below.