New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is facing an extended absence and could potentially miss the remainder of the NFL season due to a knee injury sustained during Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Reports from ESPN on Tuesday indicated that the injury to Dart’s left knee is more severe than initially believed.

According to Adam Schefter, further testing has left both the Giants and Dart contemplating the possibility of season-ending surgery. The injury occurred on the opening possession of the Giants’ 28-6 defeat to the Rams, where it was initially thought that Dart had only sprained his MCL without any broken bones. An MRI was scheduled for Tuesday to assess the damage.

Head coach John Harbaugh expressed some optimism on Monday, suggesting that a “devastating outcome” had been avoided and that he did not expect Dart to be sidelined for an extended period. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for recovery.

The 23-year-old quarterback had started the season strong, leading the Giants to a victory against Dallas in Week 1. Unfortunately, he left the field after a significant hit from Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart on the seventh play of Monday night’s game. Following his exit, Dart was seen on the sidelines in a track suit, while backup Jameis Winston struggled to find his rhythm, throwing an end-zone interception as New York managed to score only through field goals.