New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart could miss the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed that his left knee injury was more serious than the team initially expected, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Media.
The Giants have not announced a final diagnosis or recovery timeline. Coach John Harbaugh said evaluations remain ongoing and that the club will provide an update once Dart, the medical staff and the organization determine the next step.
The outlook changed after the MRI
Early signs produced cautious optimism. Dart walked off the field under his own power Monday night, initial X rays were negative and Giants general manager Joe Schoen said during the game that the quarterback would be OK. The initial fear was a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Tuesday brought a more concerning picture. CBS Sports, citing ESPN and NFL Media, reported that the MRI results were worse than the Giants anticipated. Dart is now expected to miss an extended period, with the possibility that he will not return this season.
The injury happened on the final play of New York's opening possession during a 28 to 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Dart was hit high by Byron Young and low by Josaiah Stewart as he released a deep pass. His left knee bent awkwardly, and he immediately grabbed it before eventually walking to the sideline.
Jameis Winston moves into the spotlight
Jameis Winston replaced Dart and completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with one interception. Unless the Giants make another move, Winston projects to start while Dart is unavailable.
New York faces Tennessee next, followed by Arizona and Washington. That stretch looked manageable with Dart healthy, but the offense produced only two field goals after he left against Los Angeles. Winston now has to stabilize a team that entered the week encouraged by a season opening victory over Dallas.
Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns in that win. The performance suggested the second year quarterback was ready to build on a promising rookie season in which he passed for 2,272 yards and added 487 yards on the ground.
A season ending absence is not yet official. The developing report, however, changes the Giants' outlook significantly. What initially appeared likely to cost Dart several weeks may now threaten the rest of his season.
*Featured image: New York Giants football helmet photographed by Oleg Yunakov. Licensed under CC BY SA 4.0 through Wikimedia Commons.*