Giants Turn to Jameis Winston After Jaxson Dart’s Season-Ending Injury
New York’s starting quarterback Jaxson Dart will miss the rest of the season, leaving veteran Jameis Winston as the team’s only realistic option at the position.
The New York Giants confirmed that quarterback Jaxson Dart will undergo season-ending knee surgery, ending his 2026 campaign. With the 22-year-old out, the club’s only viable option at quarterback is veteran Jameis Winston, who signed a two-year, $13 million extension two weeks ago.
Team officials said Winston was brought in as a short-term backup, but the injury forces the Giants to rely on him for the remainder of the season. Winston, 32, last started more than seven games in a season in 2019 with Tampa Bay, when he threw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.
The organization evaluated other possibilities, including free-agent and trade targets such as Mac Jones, Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, but deemed them either too costly or unavailable. Former starter Joe Flacco, now a backup for the Bengals, is also not an option as he remains under contract with a team pursuing a Super Bowl run.
Giants coaches hope Winston’s familiarity with the offense can help the team navigate a three-game home stretch against the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders. Success in that span could keep the Giants’ playoff hopes alive, though the long-term outlook remains uncertain.