Jaxson Dart Injures Knee as Giants Lose Several Stars Against Rams/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Quarterback Jaxson Dart injured his left knee during the New York Giants’ opening series in a 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Brian Burns, Malik Nabers and Andrew Thomas also sustained injuries during Monday night’s game. The Giants scheduled additional testing to determine the severity of Dart’s injury and the potential recovery timeline.
Quick Look
- Dart injured his left knee less than four minutes into the game.
- Initial X-rays were reportedly negative, but an MRI was scheduled for Tuesday.
- Coach John Harbaugh said an MCL sprain was within the range of possibilities.
- Jameis Winston replaced Dart and passed for 111 yards with one interception.
- Brian Burns sprained his left ankle.
- Malik Nabers dislocated his right shoulder but returned to the game.
- Andrew Thomas sustained an apparent lower-body injury.
- The Rams defeated the Giants 28-6.
- New York is scheduled to host Tennessee on Sunday.
Deep Look
Giants lose several leading players
The New York Giants’ 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams became more concerning as several of the team’s most important players sustained injuries.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart injured his left knee on New York’s opening possession. Pass rusher Brian Burns, wide receiver Malik Nabers and left tackle Andrew Thomas were also hurt during the game.
The Giants entered the matchup following an encouraging season-opening victory over Dallas, but their outlook changed less than four minutes into Monday night’s defeat.
Dart scheduled for an MRI
Coach John Harbaugh did not confirm reports that Dart had sprained his medial collateral ligament. He said the Giants would wait for additional testing.
“That’s in the neighborhood of it, I would say,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll get an MRI (on Tuesday) and have a real good feel for it, and give you more information from there.”
Initial X-rays were negative, according to reports, but the MRI was expected to determine the nature and severity of the injury.
Dart hurt during Giants’ first possession
Dart was injured while facing third-and-8 on New York’s opening series.
Rams linebacker Byron Young struck Dart from his right side as linebacker Josaiah Stewart made contact below, undercutting the quarterback’s legs and causing him to fall heavily.
Dart initially grabbed his knee but eventually walked slowly to the sideline without assistance. He entered the medical tent before walking to the locker room.
He later returned to the sideline wearing street clothes and did not play during the second half.
Dart completed three of five passes for 20 yards before leaving the game.
Winston replaces injured quarterback
Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston took over on the Giants’ next possession.
“Any time your quarterback goes down, obviously that’s a gut punch to the team, right?” Winston said.
Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and threw one interception as New York’s offense struggled to generate points.
The Giants managed only two field goals and could not recover after Dart’s departure.
Nabers plays through dislocated shoulder
Malik Nabers injured his right shoulder while competing with Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie for a first-down pass late in the opening quarter.
Nabers immediately grabbed the shoulder and ran toward the sideline in visible pain. He said the shoulder was dislocated and had to be put back into place.
The receiver returned during the Giants’ next series but appeared uncomfortable at several points. He finished with one reception for 1 yard on four targets.
“Nah, I ain’t gonna make no excuse for anything that happened in the game,” Nabers said. “Yeah, I’m battling through injuries, but it doesn’t make a difference on how the performance was.”
Nabers said he expected to undergo X-rays Tuesday.
Burns suffers ankle sprain
Brian Burns sprained his left ankle after Rams center Coleman Shelton stepped on him.
Burns used a cart to return to the locker room following the game but did not speculate about whether he would be available when the Giants host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
“I’ve dealt with this,” Burns said. “It just depends on how fast you can get the swelling and inflammation out. So I’m just going to do everything possible to get it as tamed as I can.”
Burns said injuries require teams to rely on their depth.
“But that’s just part of football,” he said. “Guys go down every day, and it’s always next guy up. That’s why you try to develop a culture where you don’t slack off in production with the guys that’s behind.”
Thomas leaves with apparent injury
Starting left tackle Andrew Thomas sustained an apparent lower-body injury during the fourth quarter.
The injury added another major concern for an offense already playing without its starting quarterback and with Nabers limited by his shoulder.
The Giants did not immediately provide details about Thomas’ condition or indicate whether additional testing would be required.
Injuries revive concerns from last season
New York dealt with extended absences involving several of the same players during the previous season.
Dart sustained a concussion against the Chicago Bears during Week 10 of his rookie campaign. Nabers missed most of the year after tearing the ACL in his right knee.
The latest injuries quickly shifted attention away from the optimism surrounding Harbaugh’s successful Giants debut against the Cowboys.
Winston could lead offense during Dart’s absence
If Dart misses time, Winston is positioned to run the Giants’ offense.
The 11-year veteran was selected first overall in the 2015 NFL draft. He appeared in three games and made two starts for New York in 2025, passing for 567 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Harbaugh said the Giants could not allow the sudden change in circumstances to discourage them, emphasizing that every NFL team must manage injuries during the season.
New York’s official schedule lists the Tennessee Titans as its next opponent Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
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