The New York Giants are evaluating veteran quarterback additions after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury, with free agent Jimmy Garoppolo among the options reported Sunday as Jameis Winston takes over the starting job.
NFL Network and ESPN reported that New York was considering several available or potentially obtainable quarterbacks. The list included free agents Garoppolo and Brandon Allen, along with backups Justin Fields, Mac Jones, J.J. McCarthy and Gardner Minshew.
No agreement with any of those players had been announced in the reports. The names represent possibilities under consideration, rather than completed transactions or evidence that their current teams have agreed to make them available.
Dart underwent surgery Friday to repair meniscus and MCL damage, according to NFL Network. Giants coach John Harbaugh had already confirmed that the second-year quarterback would miss the rest of the regular season.
The injury occurred on New York’s opening possession in Monday’s 28–6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Dart was hit by two defenders, and Winston played the rest of the game, completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards and an interception.
Winston and Jake Haener were the Giants’ remaining quarterbacks as the team prepared for its Week 3 meeting with Tennessee. Harbaugh said during the week that the club was keeping its options open while installing Winston as the starter.
New York signed Winston to a two-year extension earlier this month. The veteran has been involved in the offensive preparation throughout the offseason and regular season, but replacing Dart changes the balance of skills at the position.
Harbaugh has described Winston as a strong passer and said the Giants would build around his strengths. Winston acknowledged that he needed to execute better than he had in relief against the Rams.
Garoppolo would offer experience without requiring a trade, while acquiring a quarterback already under contract elsewhere would require an agreement with another club. The Giants have not publicly settled on either route.
For now, Winston has the starting assignment and New York has an unresolved need for additional depth. Any new arrival’s role would depend on the player acquired and the team’s subsequent decisions.
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