Jaxson Dart’s Knee and Jayden Daniels’ Elbow: What Could Their Injuries Mean for Recovery?

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In the span of two days, two starting quarterbacks suffered significant joint injuries. Washington’s Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow against Dallas on September 20. New York’s Jaxson Dart injured his left knee when two defenders hit him against Los Angeles on September 21. Neither returned to his game. [1–3]

The difference between a short absence and a prolonged recovery will depend on the anatomy of the injury and the stability of the joint. Below is the orthopedic reasoning behind each injury. This is an explanation of possible injury patterns and treatments, not a diagnosis based on game footage.

What do we actually know?

Quarterback	Confirmed by his team	Still undisclosed as of September 23
Jaxson Dart	Left knee injury; additional testing and decisions were ongoing.	MRI findings, MCL grade, any associated injury, surgery decision, and return date.
Jayden Daniels	Left elbow dislocation involving the same elbow injured in 2025; initial imaging showed no fracture.	Detailed ligament and cartilage findings, degree of residual instability, final treatment plan, and return date.

An MCL injury has been raised in reports about Dart, but the Giants have not publicly confirmed the precise diagnosis. Washington has confirmed Daniels’ dislocation and said specialists were evaluating him. [1–3]

Jaxson Dart: How are MCL injuries graded?

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the principal restraint against valgus stress—force that opens the inner side of the knee. The superficial MCL runs from the medial femur to the proximal tibia. The deep MCL and posteromedial structures, including the posterior oblique ligament, also contribute to medial and rotational stability. A valgus injury may involve one structure or several. [4, 5]

Clinicians classify MCL injuries by the extent of tearing and the amount of abnormal motion on examination:

Grade I: Microscopic fiber injury or stretching. There is medial tenderness, but the ligament remains functionally intact, with no meaningful valgus laxity.
Grade II: Partial tear. Valgus testing may reveal some increased opening at approximately 30 degrees of knee flexion, usually with a firm endpoint.
Grade III: Complete disruption or avulsion from bone. There is substantial valgus opening and an absent or markedly diminished endpoint. Opening at 30 degrees suggests significant MCL injury; opening in full extension raises concern for additional posteromedial or cruciate ligament damage. [4, 5]

A careful exam compares both knees and tests stability at 30 degrees and full extension. X-rays assess fractures or bony avulsions; MRI identifies the tear’s location and extent and assesses the ACL, menisci, articular cartilage, and posteromedial corner. The location matters as much as the grade: a femoral-sided tear, midsubstance tear, and distal tibial avulsion may heal differently. [4, 5]

How are these injuries usually treated?

Most isolated grade I and II MCL injuries heal without surgery. Treatment generally involves temporary activity modification, ice and swelling control, a hinged brace when appropriate, early controlled motion, and progressive rehabilitation to restore full extension, strength, balance, and cutting mechanics. Prolonged rigid immobilization can contribute to stiffness. Even some isolated grade III tears can heal with bracing and structured therapy when the torn tissue remains well positioned and the knee becomes stable. A complete MCL tear does not automatically mean surgery. [4, 5]

Why might Dart’s injury be more concerning?

Dart was caught in a collision involving two defenders, and he could not continue. That mechanism warrants a thorough workup, but the replay and his exit from the game cannot establish a grade or prove a need for surgery. A more serious scenario would be more than an isolated MCL sprain: a complete tear with pronounced medial opening, persistent laxity in extension, damage to the ACL or posteromedial corner, a meniscal or cartilage injury, or a displaced bony or distal tibial avulsion. These possibilities are questions for the exam and MRI, not reported findings in Dart’s knee. [1, 4, 5]

A distal MCL avulsion deserves special attention because the torn ligament may retract or become trapped superficial to nearby tendons—the so-called Stener-like lesion—preventing it from returning to its tibial attachment. Persistent valgus laxity can also overload a repaired or reconstructed ACL. Those patterns may make operative treatment more appropriate than bracing alone. [5]

If surgery were needed, what would it involve?

The procedure depends on the tear pattern:

Acute repair: If good-quality MCL tissue has pulled away from the femur or tibia, the surgeon may return it to its anatomical attachment using sutures, anchors, or fixation for a bone fragment. Selected repairs can be reinforced with suture augmentation while the ligament heals.
Reconstruction: If the tissue is shredded, chronically stretched, or unsuitable for direct repair, a tendon graft from the patient or a donor may recreate the MCL along its anatomical femoral and tibial attachments. Significant posteromedial instability may require reconstruction of the posterior oblique ligament as well.
Associated injury treatment: If the ACL, meniscus, or cartilage is also damaged, that injury may require treatment. Surgeons individualize whether procedures are combined or staged to protect stability while limiting postoperative stiffness. [5]

After an operation, a hinged brace, controlled motion, and progressive strengthening protect healing tissue. Return to contact football would require restored motion and strength and objective confidence that the knee remains stable during planting, rotation, acceleration, and unpredictable hits. There is no public evidence as of this update that Dart has been scheduled for any of these procedures. [1, 4, 5]

Jayden Daniels: Why is a repeat elbow dislocation different?

A dislocation occurs when the humerus separates from its normal articulation with the ulna and radius. The elbow’s bony contours, capsule, and medial and lateral collateral ligament complexes work together to keep it centered. A fall onto an outstretched arm can tear the capsule and ligaments as the joint dislocates. Even a “simple” dislocation—one without a major fracture—can involve substantial soft-tissue damage. [6]

Daniels’ left elbow dislocated in 2025 and again in 2026. Two episodes raise concern about recurrent instability, though recurrence alone cannot tell us which ligament is torn or whether surgery is necessary. The team has reported no fracture on initial imaging, but radiographs do not establish ligament integrity or exclude small osteochondral injury. [2, 6, 7]

The examination must answer whether the reduced joint remains concentric and stable through motion, whether it tends to subluxate with stress, and whether nerves and blood vessels remain intact. MRI can help characterize the collateral ligaments, capsule, and associated soft-tissue injury; CT may be useful if a subtle fracture or loose fragment is suspected. Prior records matter because this is the same elbow. [6, 7]

What are the nonsurgical options?

If the elbow is well aligned after reduction, has no clinically important fracture, and remains stable through a functional range of motion, care may involve brief splinting followed by a hinged brace and supervised early motion. Therapy works to regain flexion, extension, and forearm rotation without placing excessive stress on the healing ligaments. Strengthening and activity-specific progression follow. Extended immobilization increases the risk of troublesome elbow stiffness. [6, 7]

Because Daniels has had a second dislocation, nonsurgical treatment would require particular confidence that the joint remains stable as swelling resolves and activity increases. A brace can protect the elbow during recovery, but it does not correct substantial structural instability on its own.

When might surgery be considered, and what could it entail?

Surgery becomes more likely if the elbow cannot remain concentrically reduced, repeatedly subluxates, has significant persistent instability despite protection, or has an associated fracture or osteochondral fragment that compromises stability. The exact operation follows the deficient structures identified on examination and imaging. [6, 7]

In an acute injury with viable tissue, a surgeon may repair the torn collateral ligament complex and capsule back to bone, sometimes with suture augmentation. If the ligament is chronically insufficient or its tissue quality is poor, the surgeon may reconstruct the deficient ligament with a tendon graft. A fracture of the coronoid or radial head, if present, may need fixation or other treatment to restore the elbow’s bony stability. Selected very unstable elbows may need additional temporary protection while the repaired tissues heal. These are possible procedures, not a report of what Daniels needs. [6, 7]

Although the left arm is his nonthrowing arm, Daniels needs it to brace a fall, protect himself from a tackler, secure the football, and absorb contact. Clearance should reflect stable motion, useful strength, confidence in contact situations, and acceptable risk of another dislocation. His prior injury makes the long-term stability question particularly important.

What determines their return to football?

For Dart, the central questions are which knee structures are injured and whether the knee resists valgus and rotational stress. For Daniels, they are whether the elbow stays centered and whether its stabilizing ligaments can withstand another fall or tackle. Imaging informs those decisions; it cannot replace a repeat examination and functional progression.

Neither team had released enough detail by September 23 to give an evidence-based return date. A player’s ability to walk, throw, or perform a brief workout is only one step toward tolerating full-speed NFL contact. [1–3]

Takeaway: These are two serious injuries with very different anatomy. Many MCL tears and stable elbow dislocations can heal without surgery. A complex or persistently unstable knee, or an elbow that dislocates repeatedly because its stabilizers have failed, may require repair or reconstruction. The specific decisions for Dart and Daniels belong to their treating teams after the complete evaluation.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dart’s MCL definitely torn? The Giants have confirmed a left knee injury but have not publicly released a definitive ligament diagnosis or MCL grade as of September 23. [1]

Does a grade III MCL tear always require surgery? No. Some isolated complete tears heal with bracing and rehabilitation. The tear’s location, displacement, associated injuries, and residual laxity matter. [4, 5]

Does Daniels’ second elbow dislocation mean he needs surgery? Not necessarily. If the elbow remains well aligned and stable after reduction, nonsurgical care can be considered. Recurrent or substantial instability and associated damage may favor repair or reconstruction. [6, 7]

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By Dr. Sarang Desai, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon | Updated September 23, 2026

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Sarang Desai is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon in McKinney and Flower Mound, Texas. A former All-American athlete and professional team physician, he treats athletes and active patients throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area.