New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is believed to have sprained the MCL in his left knee during Monday night’s 28 to 6 loss in Inglewood, an injury sustained on the opening series that ended his night and leaves his availability unclear.
What is the diagnosis so far?
X rays came back negative and an MRI was scheduled for Tuesday. The head coach said the reported MCL sprain was in the neighborhood of what the staff believed and that the imaging would clarify it. Early indications point away from a season ending or long term absence, though Jaxson Dart is expected to miss some time.
How did the injury happen?
On third and eight, under pressure, he was hit from his right side by a Rams linebacker and driven into a second defender attempting the tackle, landing hard on the turf. He immediately grabbed at his left knee, went to the medical tent for examination, then walked to the locker room with a limp.
Did he try to return?
Yes, and he was not permitted to. Jaxson Dart attempted to reenter during the first half and the Giants held him out, with the decision coming from the medical staff rather than the player. He returned to the sideline in street clothes. The team listed him questionable before officially ruling him out early in the third quarter. A teammate described him as visibly unhappy with the call while still working to keep the sideline engaged.
How did the offense function without him?
Poorly. Jameis Winston completed 11 of 27 attempts for 111 yards with an interception, and the unit bore little resemblance to the one that beat Dallas the previous week. Teammates expressed confidence in the backup while acknowledging execution was the failure rather than the personnel.
Who else got hurt?
Three more starters. Receiver Malik Nabers injured his right shoulder in the second quarter on a broken up pass, went to the ground on the sideline and was attended to for several minutes before returning later in the quarter. He said afterward he had popped the shoulder back into place and would have it imaged. Left tackle Andrew Thomas left in the fourth quarter with a groin injury and did not return. Edge rusher Brian Burns sustained what the head coach described as a low ankle sprain in the closing minutes and left the stadium in a boot. None are expected to miss significant time.
Why does the Nabers detail matter?
Because of context and because of judgment. He returned last week from a torn ACL, and he said he went back in partly because the team had already lost its quarterback. A player self assessing a shoulder that came out of joint, in a game his team trailed by multiple scores, is the kind of decision that reads differently the morning after. He finished with one catch for one yard on four targets.
What does this mean for New York?
A team that looked functional a week earlier lost its starting quarterback and three other contributors in a single night. Everything about the offense had been built around Jaxson Dart, and the drop off after his exit was immediate and total.
What comes next?
Tuesday’s imaging. An MCL sprain can range from a week to well over a month depending on grade, which is the entire question for New York’s next several games. Until the MRI results arrive, the optimism coming out of the building is a read rather than a timeline.
