Could injured Giants star Jaxson Dart return for the playoffs? Surgeon doesn’t rule it out

Could Big Blue get a big boost in the playoffs in the form of Jaxson Dart?

Former college football quarterback-turned-foot-and-ankle surgeon Dr. Drew Burdi won’t rule out a playoff return for the New York Giants’ star quarterback, should they get there.

“He’s a good player. So, I don’t know if they’ll rush him back. But it could I mean in in some world yeah he could potentially come back,” Burdi told OutKick in a recent interview.

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Dart underwent surgery on his left knee on Sept. 25, during which doctors repaired his meniscus and addressed damage to his MCL and PCL. Burdi, who doesn’t specialize in knees, said rushing Dart back too soon could put his career at risk.

“I think in his situation, they’ll probably hold him out. I don’t think it’s worth risking his career because I mean, you got guys like (Robert Griffin III) and people that have had these injuries in the past and it’s just not worth it, I think, for one season. Because if they let him heal, he’s a huge investment for them potentially come back,” Burdi said.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh initially ruled Dart out only for the regular season, leaving the door open for a playoff return if the Giants make it. The estimated recovery time for Dart’s injuries is about four to six months.

Four months from Sept. 25 is Jan. 25, 2027, and the NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs are scheduled for just two days before. Harbaugh tempered expectations for Dart’s return after the quarterback underwent surgery.

“I think he tweeted out he’s going to be back for the playoffs. Did he put that out there? Maybe he just texted me that,” Harbaugh said on Oct. 1. “Maybe that’s a little ambitious.”

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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart walks off the field with an injury during the first half of an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

A return for Dart won’t matter if the Giants don’t make the playoffs, but there is reason to believe they could. At 3-1-1, the Giants have beaten the teams they were expected to beat and sit atop the NFC East, while the rest of the division doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-3 and have lost three straight, including their last two games after blowing fourth-quarter leads. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has a superficial blood clot and will miss at least the Eagles’ game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys are 2-3 as their defense has once again struggled mightily this season. Despite making wholesale changes to their defense during the offseason, the Cowboys rank 27th in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 27.2 points per game.

Last week, the Cowboys lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-16. The Buccaneers came into the game 0-4, starting an undrafted rookie who was making his second career start in a primetime road game during a short week.

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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart walks off the field with an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

The Washington Commanders are 1-3-1 after a 27-27 tie marked by one of the worst displays of game management from head coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels. Their next game is Monday against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.

With the rest of the NFC East reeling, if the Giants can stack up enough wins, they could win the weakened division and earn a playoff berth, allowing fans to dream about Dart’s return.

The Giants are 2-0-1 without Dart and will look to keep things rolling when they play the 1-4 New Orleans Saints on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.