Jaxson Dart Knee Injury Mars Giants' Rams Blowout Loss

Fox News reports Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart left Monday night's 28-6 loss to the Rams with a knee injury, with an MCL issue feared ahead of Tuesday's MRI.

According to Fox News, the New York Giants entered SoFi Stadium riding high after their Week 1 win over the Cowboys, but their night collapsed when quarterback Jaxson Dart was ruled out after a brutal hit. Fox News reports Dart was sandwiched between two Rams defenders who beat the Giants' tackles off the edge, and video replay showed his leg shift in an awkward way while airborne. Jameis Winston took over as the Giants fell 28-6 to a revitalized Los Angeles Rams team.

Fox News reports that OutKick's Armando Salguero identified a possible MCL injury as what Dart and the Giants may be facing, though the organization is waiting on official results. What makes the story more hopeful, per Fox News, is that Dart tried to talk the coaching staff into putting him back in the game — ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported that during the broadcast — and the staff refused. Fox News frames that fight to return as a sign the injury may not be as severe as initially feared. Still, in a Week 2 filled with key quarterback injuries around the league, everyone involved is hoping the 2026 season is not washed up for the second-year signal caller out of Ole Miss.

The Rams' side of the result is corroborated by multiple outlets: Los Angeles won 28-6 for its first win of the new season. Fox News reports Matthew Stafford looked more like the reigning MVP compared to Week 1, dissecting the Giants' defense with time in the pocket. The Rams' official site highlights show Davante Adams caught a 64-yard pass that pushed him over 100 yards in the first half alone, finishing with eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns per Fox News. The Rams site also documents Aaron Donald's return from retirement, including a tackle for a loss, and a first career sack by outside linebacker Wesley Bailey, plus an interception of Winston by Trent McDuffie.

Yahoo Sports previewed the game as a pressure cooker for the Rams, who were the most popular preseason Super Bowl pick but arrived desperate after an ugly 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Australia, Myles Garrett's knee surgery, and Puka Nacua's late-week hip issue that ruled him out. Meanwhile, the Giants were framed as the rising team under new coach John Harbaugh after a 28-20 win over Dallas, with tight end Isaiah Likely catching eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. Yahoo Sports noted an 0-2 start could spiral toward 1-4 given a schedule of Denver, Philadelphia and Buffalo — which is why the Rams' response Monday mattered so much.

Fox News reports the Giants' ground-and-pound offense that surprised the Cowboys in Week 1 was non-existent against Los Angeles, which limited New York to just 44 rushing yards as a team after 165 in the opener. Fox News credits the Rams' defensive line, boosted by Aaron Donald's return — he finished with three total tackles and one for loss in his first game back in two years. The Giants also got a scare when star receiver Malik Nabers gripped at his right shoulder after a target from Winston; Fox News says he eventually returned to the game. And the injury bug kept biting: Fox News reports Brian Burns rolled his ankle late, declined a cart ride, and walked to the locker room on his own.

Fox News reports Dart's MRI results should come on Tuesday, the pivotal data point that will determine whether the Giants' lofty expectations under the John Harbaugh era can survive. According to Fox News, the Giants' pass rush — expected to be a fearsome group featuring Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — managed no pressure on Stafford and will be a talking point all week, especially with crucial home games ahead. For the Rams, the Yahoo Sports betting market watch had noted the line dipping from Rams -7.5 to -6.5 with Nacua out, and the victory validates oddsmakers who still rated Los Angeles the NFL's highest power-rated team heading into the night.