NFL Doctor Shares His Take On Jaxson Dart Injury, And It’s Not Good
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Jaxson Dart’s night ended early, and it happened in the worst possible way.
The Giants quarterback went down midway through the first quarter Monday night. Rams defender Byron Young hit him high, driving him into fellow defender Josaiah Stewart, whose leg then struck Dart’s left knee. Dart’s knee bent awkwardly as he fell. Slow-motion replays of the hit quickly made the rounds online.
He needed help getting up, but limped off the field under his own power. Jameis Winston took over at quarterback for New York’s next possession.
One person watching closely was Dr. David Chao, a longtime NFL team physician who now shares real-time injury reads under the handle ProFootballDoc. Chao offered his own breakdown of the play shortly after it happened, writing that it was a “scary start to #MNF” and noting it’s “never good when QB clutches lead leg.”
Doctor Flags A Specific Knee Ligament As The Bigger Worry
Chao’s assessment carried some cautious optimism mixed with real concern. He said the good news is that he doubts the injury is an ACL tear, which would typically end a player’s season.
But he flagged a different concern, writing that an MCL sprain appears to be the more likely outcome based on the replay. The difference is crucial, since an ACL tear usually means surgery and a recovery stretching into next year.
An MCL sprain works differently. Depending on its grade, it can sideline a quarterback for a couple of weeks or a couple of months, and Chao indicated Dart would likely need a brace and face limited mobility in the near term.
Giants Have Already Managed A Rocky Injury Stretch With Dart
This isn’t the first time Dart’s health has become a storyline in New York. The second-year QB dealt with a string of ailments last year, including an ankle sprain, hamstring tightness, and four separate trips through the concussion protocol.
Dart has been open about his frustration with how often those evaluations piled up. Earlier this year, during the preseason, he said he was “still puzzled by it just feeling like every time that I get hit, I find my way in there,” referring to the medical tent after another hard hit.
It isn’t a head injury this time, but the mechanism looked serious enough that fans and analysts called it one of the scarier moments of Dart’s short career. Replays showed the awkward angle his knee took as both Rams defenders arrived almost at once.
New York has built its offense around Dart’s mobility and arm talent this season, so an extended absence would force real adjustments.
Winston brings starting experience and a strong track record, including a career-best 33 touchdown passes in a single season, so the Giants aren’t without options if Dart needs time to heal.
Still, losing a starting quarterback days after a season-opening win complicates New York’s plans against a tough upcoming schedule.
