Stephen A. Smith urges Giants to target Shedeur Sanders after Jaxson Dart injury
Stephen A. Smith believes the Giants should explore a surprising quarterback option after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury, putting Shedeur Sanders’ name into the conversation.
S tephen A. Smith puts a controversial option on the table for the New York Giants : pursuing Shedeur Sanders after the injury that sidelined Jaxson Dart for the remainder of the season.
Stephen A. Smith urges Giants to consider Shedeur Sanders
Jaxson Dart ’s second season came to an abrupt end just two games into the 2026 campaign. The quarterback suffered a knee injury during the matchup against the Los Angeles Rams , and further tests later revealed that the damage was more serious than initially expected.
Dart will undergo surgery, and his potential return would be limited to the playoffs at the earliest. With that situation, Jameis Winston , who took over the offense after Dart’s exit in Week 2 , will be the Giants’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.
However, according to Stephen A. Smith , the franchise should explore another option: Shedeur Sanders .
“If there was a possible way they could pull it off, I would tell the Giants to go out and pursue Shedeur Sanders. I ain’t gonna lie to you. That would be what was on my mind personally. Let me tell you something about this whole Jameis Winston situation. Yeah, they knew it. They signed him to a $13 million extension… It ain’t about looking for a top 30 quarterback. It’s about looking for a better backup than Jameis Winston,” Smith said on First Take.
The analyst also acknowledged that the real question is whether New York would actually be able to make a move of that magnitude.
“Could you find that? That’s the real question. Can you pull that off if you’re the New York Giants? Because that’s what you’re looking for right now.”
Giants face a new challenge without Jaxson Dart
Dart’s injury represents a major setback for a franchise that had found hope in its young quarterback. After a promising start, New York now faces a more difficult situation as it tries to keep its season alive.
Winston struggled against the Rams after entering the game in the first quarter to replace Dart, but he will now have the opportunity to prove he can lead the offense and keep the team competitive during the final stretch of the season.
The Giants are counting on the improvements they made across the roster to overcome this obstacle, though they will have to decide whether to fully commit to Winston or explore other options on the market.
New York’s next game will be at home against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 , with kickoff scheduled for September 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET , giving Winston a chance to respond under pressure.
