Four Quarterbacks the 2026 Giants Can Turn to with Their Star Signal Caller Missing Time

The New York Giants got some terrible news Wednesday morning: star quarterback Jaxson Dart will miss the rest of the season. Dart suffered a devastating knee injury during Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams when two defenders hit him. The former Ole Miss standout was off to a promising start, coming off a big win against the Dallas Cowboys, where he threw three touchdowns. Now New York needs to figure out its quarterback plan with Dart gone.

​Jameis Winston

​The most likely answer on this list is Jameis Winston, who is already on the roster and finished the game after Dart was injured. He struggled against the Rams, though, finishing with only 111 passing yards and a pick. While Monday wasn't Winston's best game, he has plenty of experience. The veteran passer with top-of-the-draft pedigree started for three different teams and even threw for over 5,000 passing yards in 2019. Winston already knows the offense, and he started two weeks last season when Dart was out with a concussion. The G-Men will need the seasoned NFL gunslinger to show he can still play at the highest level if he wants the job.

​Carson Wentz

​If the Giants choose to trade for a quarterback, Carson Wentz may be the best option. Wentz is currently with the Minnesota Vikings, where the veteran signal-caller has stepped into the starting role while Kyler Murray remains sidelined with an injury. In one of those two games he started, he even threw three touchdowns, showing he still has talent to give. With Murray expected to be back next week, Wentz may be available on the trade market. The former second-overall pick once played at an MVP-caliber level, helping power Philadelphia’s 2017 Super Bowl run before an injury abruptly ended his season. While he still may not be the same player, the 2017 MVP candidate has shown he still has something to give a team, and the Giants seem like a perfect fit

​Joe Flacco

​Another veteran on the list is Joe Flacco, who has the most NFL experience. He has already played with Giants head coach John Harbaugh during their long time together in Baltimore. The two met in multiple playoff games and even won Super Bowl XLVII together. While the former Raven isn't who he once was, he can still play meaningful snaps at quarterback. The former Super Bowl MVP has started multiple games for the Browns and his current team, the Bengals, throughout the last three seasons. It will be interesting to see whether the Bengals are open to moving Flacco, but the Giants definitely have someone to consider here.

​JJ McCarthy

​The only young quarterback on this list will be another Minnesota Viking in JJ McCarthy. McCarthy was a first-round pick out of Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a National Championship. Even better for the Giants, his Michigan coach was Giants head coach John Harbaugh's brother, Jim Harbaugh. While the others may not have that experience, the former national champ has the potential. In Minnesota, he's had ups and downs but hasn't dealt with injuries and hasn't had enough of a sample size to see what he is truly made of. If the Giants are willing to take a risk, this is the guy they need to go for. With the right coaching and players around him, the former top-10 draft pick has all the right tools to succeed.