Jaxson Dart's Knee Surgery 'Went Well,' Playoff Return ‘Maybe a Bit Ambitious’

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart underwent surgery last Friday to repair his meniscus, MCL, and PCL, and head coach John Harbaugh said on Wednesday that the procedure “went well,” according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Dart injured his knee in New York’s Week 2 loss to the Rams. Harbaugh had previously left open the possibility that the 23-year-old could return for the postseason, but he told reporters that such a timeline is “maybe a bit ambitious.”

What happened

Dart’s surgery addressed three separate ligament structures in his knee. The Giants have not announced an official recovery timeline, but Harbaugh’s comments suggest the injury is significant enough to keep Dart out well into the winter.

The Giants are 2-1 and tied for the NFC East lead, which might make a playoff run seem plausible. However, Harbaugh himself downplayed the chance of Dart returning for that stretch.

Context

Before the injury, Dart led the Giants to 28 points and nearly 400 yards of total offense in a Week 1 win. Backup Jameis Winston has struggled to find a rhythm since taking over under center.

New York’s offense ranks near the middle of the league in total yards and ninth in points scored, but the defense is a bottom-five unit in both yards and points allowed. That profile suggests the team’s early success may be difficult to sustain.

The Giants also lost star edge rusher Brian Burns to a torn ACL, which could make it harder to stay competitive. If Winston continues to struggle, the team could turn to J.J. McCarthy, who was acquired from the Vikings, though he may need time to learn Matt Nagy’s offense and is not considered a clear upgrade.

What’s next

The Giants have not provided a specific return date for Dart. Based on Harbaugh’s comments, a playoff return appears unlikely, and the team will move forward with Winston for the foreseeable future.