There's plenty of hype surrounding the New York Giants in their first season under John Harbaugh, with some even projecting a surprise run to the playoffs.
But the team won't go anywhere if second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart doesn't play at a high level. The G-Men are relying on a year-two breakout from him. He'll be the leader of the offense and showed enough signs of encouragement in his rookie year for fans to buy in.
Unfortunately, the odds could be stacked against Dart early in the 2026 season. With lingering injury concerns for superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers, the quarterback may be facing an impossible situation.
Jaxson Dart's breakout hopes hinge on a healthy Malik Nabers
Dart spent almost all of his rookie season without Nabers on the field. The receiver got injured in Week 4, the same week that the QB earned the starting job, and never returned in 2025.
Even without him, the young quarterback was fairly productive. He threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding nine scores on the ground. While there were more than a few shaky moments throughout the season, there are more than enough reasons to believe he can become a franchise quarterback.
But so much of that production came on screen passes and RPOs. Without Nabers in the lineup, the Giants were forced to rely on manufactured looks for Wan'Dale Robinson to keep the offense moving. Dart operated that offense well, but there was a clear cap on what the unit could be.
Those RPO looks and screen passes likely won't go away in 2026. They're an important part of new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's scheme. But if the offense doesn't pose a legitimate threat of pushing the ball down the field, it won't be able to hold up against talented NFL defenses. The Giants need a dominant receiver like Nabers on the field to give Dart a reliable option against multiple looks.
New York general manager Joe Schoen is optimistic that Nabers can be ready to go by Week 1. His recovery from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season has been clouded by some alarming reports throughout the spring, so it's unclear what his exact timeline is. Hopefully, Schoen's estimate is spot on.
If Naber misses significant time early in the season, it could keep Dart from making the progress that has come to be expected of him.
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