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Jaxson Dart was the latest young hurler to be struck down by an untimely injury. Unlike some of his fellow gunslingers, early reports suggest that he might’ve avoided a lengthy layoff.

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The Giants star exited New York’s 28-6 loss against the Rams after attempting just five passes, seeing his night come to an end after being collected by a pair of Los Angeles pass rushers. He immediately grabbed at his knee in the aftermath of the carnage, although his issue isn’t expected to keep him off the field for too long.

With that, here’s everything we know about Dart’s injury, as well as a timeline for his potential return.

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Jaxson Dart injury update

Dart was cut down by an apparent MCL sprain in the first series of New York’s loss. He took a strike to the left knee from Rams linebacker Byron Young while attempting a throw. The collision sent Dart’s left knee into linebacker Josiah Stewart, who aided Young in completing the QB hit.

Another Look At Jaxon Dart’s Injury.

His Knee Definitely Bends In An Awkward Position. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3TXUNrDV0f

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 22, 2026

Dart writhed in pain after falling to the turf, reaching for his left knee. He walked off the field on his own power but was escorted to the locker room via cart after disappearing into the tunnel.

Jaxson Dart heads to the locker room after an apparent left leg injury. pic.twitter.com/OIhdksSL6L

— ESPN (@espn) September 22, 2026

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported that Dart attempted to return to the game in the first half, only to be turned away by New York medical personnel. ESPN’s Laura Rutledge added that she witnessed an interaction between Giants staff members in which one person said «They just took his uniform.»

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New York general manager Joe Schoen told Rutledge that Dart «was going to be OK.» Raanan reported that X-ray scans on Dart’s left knee were negative. Giants head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Dart will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity of his malady.

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Jaxson Dart MCL recovery timeline

SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that the Giants are anticipating Dart to miss 2-4 weeks of action as a result of his latest injury. He also that upon Dart’s return, he could opt to sport a knee brace.

If Dart were to miss 2-4 weeks, that would fall right in line with the expected length of absence for a player who suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain. Jordan Love missed two games with a Grade 2 sprain in 2024, while T.J. Watt was unable to take part in the Steelers’ wild-card round game against the Ravens after suffering an MCL sprain in Week 18 that same year. Hughes noted that former Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was felled by an MCL sprain last year. He, too, received a 2-4 week injury absence prognosis He went on to miss 51 days — a little more than seven weeks — as a result of his ailment.

We won’t know the full timeline of Dart’s return until the results of his scan are made public. Grade 1 sprains can take between one and two weeks to clear up, according to the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute. Meanwhile, a Grade 3 sprain typically takes more than a month to recover — according to the Cleveland Clinic, the injury refers to when the MCL is completely torn.

Stay tuned for updates.

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MCL sprains grades

Like most sprains, MCL injuries are placed on a chart, with higher grades referring to more serious injuries. MCL tears and sprains are practically synonymous — a tear is merely a more severe version of a sprain, while every MCL sprain involves at least some of the ligament fibers tearing.

With that, here’s a breakdown of the different types of MCL sprains and what each entails.

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