Jaxson Dart's knee injury is a Giants bummer but still a big break for Big Blue

The Giants saw quarterback Jaxson Dart go down with a troubling left knee injury on the first drive of their Week 2 Monday night road game at Los Angeles. But that doesn't mean the unfortunate New York minute against the Rams will turn their season blue.

Dart was ruled out to return in what became a offense-challenged 28-6 loss as veteran backup Jameis Winston struggled in the second-year QB's place. When Dart was pressured and sandwiched by Rams edge rushers Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart, he landed scarily with his knee bent to make the Giants fear the worst.

Dart not being carted off the field and some guarded halftime optimism from coach Jim Harbaugh suggested the injury wasn't a season-ending torn ACL. ESPN cameras also caught a brief exchange between Harbaugh and Giants head trainer Adam Bennett, in which simple lip-reading discerned that "MCL" and "out 4-6 weeks" was the information relayed. Later, Dart was even able to return from the locker room midway through the third quarter to stand on the sidelines in street clothes.

All things considered, the initial fear were allayed. Dart also wasn't hurt by running with reckless abandon. The Giants also are headed to have him back, maybe before the second half of the season.

The Giants got undue hype for upsetting an overrated Cowboys team at home in Week 1 with a near-perfect ball-control game plan. Facing the real Super Bowl-hyped Rams on the road was a reality check. Had Dart been in the game, the Giants might have been more competitive but he wouldn't have kept their defense from being gashed by run and pass all night.

The biggest goal in the Giants turning the page to the Harbaugh era is restoring some functional vibes. That's already happened, but they are still a young team with significant holes to keep them out of true playoff contention. The Giants can still well improve on a disastrous 3-14 final season during which former coach Brian Daboll was fired before the end.

Speaking of Daboll, the Giants will face the winless Titans — whose offense is coordinated by Daboll — at home in Week 3. Then it's another very beatable team, the 1-1 Cardinals, also at MetLife Stadium in Week 4.

The Giants go back on the road for the winless division rival Commanders in Week 5. Should both Dart and hurting Jayden Daniels (elbow) miss the game, that would mean Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, duels that class' No. 2 pick, Marcus Mariota.

Then it's back home for the Saints in Week 6. The most difficult upcoming game would be at the current 0-2 Texans in Week 7. That's a five-week window and the Giants have a well-timed bye in Week 8.

The Giants will be an inconsistent improved team. They have enough young talent to win about half of those Dart-less games. There should be a good feeling Dart will at least return for a back-loaded schedule and he avoid something serious. The nature of the injury also isn't tied to any real questions about Dart's durability.

New York didn't have a playoff ceiling. Jumping to 6-10 or 7-9 would make the season a success in relation to recent messes. The Giants are working to set up something special with Dart in Year 3. They also still can more flashes of a sharp Dart before it's done in 2026.