Jameis Winston leads Giants past Titans in first start after Jaxson Dart injury

Jameis Winston led the New York Giants to a 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on September 27 in his first start since Jaxson Dart injured his knee. Dart will miss the rest of the regular season, leaving Winston to lead an offense that won its first game with him as starter despite scoring no touchdowns against Tennessee.

Coach John Harbaugh said after the game that he expected Winston to start against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4, according to The Athletic’s report republished by NFL.com. The Giants have also explored adding quarterbacks, so Winston’s immediate assignment is clearer than the team’s longer-term depth chart.

How Winston replaced Jaxson Dart

Dart injured his knee when two Los Angeles Rams defenders hit him on the opening drive of the Giants’ 28-6 loss on September 21. He had completed three of five passes for 20 yards before leaving. Winston played the rest of that game, completing 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with an interception. He was sacked twice.

On September 24, the Giants announced that Dart would miss the remainder of the 2026 regular season and that Winston would start in his place. Harbaugh confirmed the decision after practice. He said a potential postseason return for Dart would depend on his recovery and that there was no way to pinpoint it then.

What the Titans win showed

Winston completed 14 of 22 passes for 118 yards against Tennessee and did not throw an interception, The Athletic reported. The Giants gained 238 yards to the Titans’ 262 and scored no offensive touchdowns. Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada supplied all 12 New York points with four field goals.

The defense also contributed to preserving the lead: safety Jevon Holland intercepted Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward in the end zone late in the game. The Athletic reported that the game was played in rain and strong winds. Harbaugh said Winston ‘did what was required’ and identified avoiding turnovers as an emphasis in the team’s planning.

Winston said he was grateful to be evaluated after a win and would prefer that outcome to a high-yardage performance in a defeat. His passing total was modest, but the result gave the Giants a victory in their first game after Dart’s injury. It did not settle how much the offense might produce in different conditions or against another opponent.

Why the Giants may add another quarterback

The quarterback room was already a concern when the Giants announced Dart’s absence. The team said on September 24 that Jake Haener was on the practice squad, and Harbaugh said he hoped to add a quarterback, preferably a veteran. He said a trade was among the options under consideration.

The Athletic reported on September 27 that the Giants were exploring the addition of at least one quarterback, possibly two. That report did not establish who the candidates were or how the team would acquire them. Harbaugh’s expectation for Week 4 therefore identifies the planned starter without resolving every roster question.

Winston has filled in for Dart before. The Giants said he started in Weeks 11 and 12 of the 2025 season while Dart dealt with a concussion. Across those games, he threw two touchdowns, ran for another and scored on a 33-yard reception on a trick play. The team signed Winston to a two-year extension shortly before the 2026 season.

The Giants’ account of Winston’s earlier starts shows why he was a familiar option when Dart went down. The Tennessee game offered a different kind of evidence: New York won while asking its quarterback to protect the ball and accepting field goals instead of touchdowns. Harbaugh has indicated Winston should get the next start, while Dart’s regular-season absence leaves the team with a continuing need for quarterback cover.