The New York Giants entered John Harbaugh’s first season as head coach with real optimism. Within two weeks, two of their most important players suffered knee injuries. One is confirmed, and the other is reported but not yet officially announced.
Jaxson Dart
The trouble began on the opening drive of a Monday night game in Los Angeles. The Giants lost Jaxson Dart on their seventh snap, when Rams linebacker Byron Young hit him on his right side. That hit sent Dart into linebacker Josaiah Stewart, who undercut his legs and caused a hard fall. Dart immediately grabbed his left knee and went to the medical tent. The Giants lost 28-6.
The diagnosis was serious. Dart tore his meniscus and MCL and is set to have knee surgery. Harbaugh confirmed he will miss the rest of the regular season. Dart faces a four- to six-month recovery, so being back for the start of the wild card round in mid-January would still be a stretch. Harbaugh did not completely rule out a return if the Giants reach the playoffs.
The timing makes it harder to take. In the win over the Cowboys the week before, Dart became the first quarterback in NFL history to open a season with at least three passing touchdowns, 50 rushing yards, and a 130 passer rating. Jameis Winston has taken over as starter.
Brian Burns
Brian Burns was already hurting. He left the Rams game with a low ankle sprain. He didn’t practice at all during the week, so it was a surprise to see him on the field against the Titans in sloppy, rainy conditions.
That decision proved costly. Midway through the fourth quarter, Burns went down grabbing his right knee and had to be helped off by offensive linemen Andrew Thomas and Aaron Stinnie. The Giants held on to win 12-7, but the victory was overshadowed by the injury.
The early reports are grim. Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning that the Giants believe Burns tore his ACL. That would end his 2026 season, and he would be aiming to return in 2027. As of this writing, the diagnosis rests on reports rather than a team announcement, so it’s worth waiting for the official word.
What it means
For Burns, the loss is significant. He ranked second in the NFL in sacks last season, behind record-setter Myles Garrett. He is 28 and had started all 36 games since arriving from the Panthers. He had a quiet start this year, with only four tackles and one quarterback hit in the first two games, but he is the defense’s most reliable pass rusher.
The Giants will now lean on Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux as their starting edge defenders. Rookie Arvell Reese is another option to take on more of the pass-rushing load.
On offense, the Titans game showed how the team may have to play without Dart. The Giants relied on the run in their first game without him. That approach can win low-scoring games, but it is a hard way to sustain a season.
At 2-1, New York is still in a decent position. But it has lost its starting quarterback and, very likely, its best defender within seven days. Whether the season holds together will depend on Winston, the run game, and the young pass rushers who now have to step up.
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