A former Florida State quarterback could be taking over a starting role once again in the NFL after a critical injury occurred in-game. New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart went down against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter with a knee injury, giving way to Jameis Winston entering the game.
Winston is a legendary part of Florida State football history, after winning numerous awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Davey O'Brien Award during his 2013 BCS National Championship win.
Winston signed a two-year deal with the Giants ahead of the 2025 season, and later started two games for the team during the season. Winston recorded 567 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and one rushing touchdown in his two starts. The Giants may need to lean on the quarterback once again, as Dart will need to undergo an MRI before the status of his injury can be confirmed.
The New York Giants may need to lean on Jameis Winston once again
The NFL has not been the easiest job for Winston, with time spent with Tampa Bay, New Orleans, and Cleveland before settling in with the Giants. In his first five seasons in the NFL with the Buccaneers, Winston put together the most productive tenure of his career with 121 touchdowns and three seasons with over 4000 passing yards.
The last season Winston spent with Tampa Bay was certainly his most controversial, with a career-high 33 passing touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Winston was also sacked 47 times that season in what became his final year with the franchise. Stops in New Orleans and Cleveland allowed Winston to see the field at times, but a full-fledged starting role has not exactly been in the cards for the quarterback.
New York signed Winston as an insurance policy behind Dart, who has had a few run-ins with injuries in his first two seasons in the NFL. The problem, however, is that Winston has struggled to find much of any success after his last full season as a starter with Tampa Bay. At 32, teams want consistency and production out of potential options at quarterback, and Winston may not have the firepower needed to hold down the role.
If Dart truly will miss time in the near future, Winston not only needs to step up for the Giants, but he needs to play far better than he has in recent history. Winston promptly threw an interception and was sacked after coming into the game for Dart, which is not exactly the most promising showing with the health of Dart up in the air.
The Giants fully expect Winston to serve as the starter when Dart is injured, and if he is unable to, New York is looking at playing Jake Haener until Dart can return. Haener has never made an NFL start in his career, and the most action he has seen is two quarters against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
Dropping Winston on the depth chart would be a bad look for the quarterback and likely a move that would hurt potential future chances in the NFL. Winston signed a two-year extension with the Giants ahead of the 2026 season, and by the end of the contract, he would be 34 years old. This could be the chance that potentially proves that Winston still has what it takes to be an accomplished NFL quarterback, but falling flat could all but confirm that his time in the league is nearing an end.
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