Jaxson Dart’s Injury History Under Microscope After Giants Land JJ McCarthy

The New York Giants sent a fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Monday. The trade came days after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending meniscus tear in a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The move covers a short-term hole behind Jameis Winston.

It also raises a longer-term question around franchise quarterback Dart because he has not stayed healthy through either of his two NFL seasons, and McCarthy may be more than a stopgap.
‘s injury record puts Giants’ quarterback plan in focus

The rookie signal-caller left the Los Angeles Rams game after New York’s first drive. On his seventh snap of the game, two defenders sandwiched him, causing a severe torn meniscus, MCL, and PCL in his left knee. The devastating injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season, coming just a week after he threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Jun 3, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) participates in drills during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Without him, the Giants struggled and could not escape a 28-6 blowout loss. The 2025 first-round pick also missed time during his final college season with a concussion.

One analysis of the trade argues this knee injury could impact the team into 2027. If Dart cannot return early next year or struggles to hit full strength, J.J. McCarthy could stick around as a long-term piece rather than a short-term backup.

Jameis Winston completed 11 of 27 passes with an interception after replacing Dart. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported before the deal that “it’s a matter of when, not if, the Giants add another passer with starting experience.”

With Dart’s mounting injury record, the trade makes immediate sense. What McCarthy offers New York now depends heavily on his own resume.

McCarthy, 23, brings plenty of upside and strong coaching ties to New York, even if he doesn’t have a long track record yet. He missed his entire rookie season in Minnesota after knee surgery.

Last year, he started 10 games, throwing for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while going 6-4. But once the Vikings brought in Kyler Murray, McCarthy fell to third string behind Murray and Carson Wentz. His current contract runs through 2027, and the team holds a fifth-year option for 2028.

The Giants already know him well. General manager Joe Schoen looked closely at McCarthy before taking wideout Malik Nabers with the sixth pick in 2024. Plus, Giants coach John Harbaugh is the brother of Jim Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy at Michigan.

Longtime New York sports writer Gary Myers outlined the clear benefit for the team on X if the backup steps onto the field. “Second best scenario: Harbaugh plays McCarthy, he plays great, Dart has a full recovery before the ’27 draft, and the Giants trade McCarthy for more than the fifth-round pick they gave up to get him,” Myers wrote.

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg also said McCarthy could play well and “have trade value somewhere else,” though he doubted McCarthy would take Dart’s job back.