The Giants.com crew members give their takeaways from Monday night's 28-6 loss to the Rams:
John Schmeelk: The Giants beat the Cowboys in Week 1 largely because they outgained Dallas 165-69 in rushing yards. The Giants averaged a half-yard more per carry than Dallas. In Week 2, the script was flipped. The Giants ran for just 52 yards on 21 carries, while the Rams ran for 163 yards and averaged 5.82 yards per carry without a mobile quarterback. In Week 2, according to Next Gen Stats, the Giants had only an 18.2 pressure percentage compared to 59 for the Rams. One week, the Giants dominated up front and won. The next week, they failed to dominate and lost.
As the Giants sort through their quarterback situation with Jaxson Dart's injury, it will become even more imperative for them to get back to winning the battle in the trenches. Defenses will begin to put more players in the box, and the Giants will either have to run it successfully anyway or make teams fear their passing game on early downs by using the play-action pass. The path to victory remains running the ball successfully with big people and passing off that. Getting the lead early in games will help make this a viable strategy. The Giants will try to get back to a successful formula next week when they host the Titans.
Dan Salomone: Jaxson Dart headlined an injury report full of headliners coming back from Los Angeles.
Eight days after he became the first quarterback in NFL history to open a season with at three passing touchdowns, 50 rushing yards and a passer rating of 130, Dart suffered a knee injury when he was hit by two Rams defenders on the opening drive. As of late Tuesday afternoon, evaluations were still "ongoing" and no final decisions had been made yet, coach John Harbaugh told the media.
"We've learned a lot more," Harbaugh said about the further evaluations Dart underwent after returning from the West Coast trip. "I wouldn't really want to share too much until decisions get made, and that takes more than one person. It takes everybody involved. So, when we know what direction we're going to have to go or go or whatever it might be, we'll announce that. But we don't have that yet, so I don't want to get out over our skis on that."
The Giants (1-1) will have a short week to prepare for a Sunday 1 p.m. game against the Tennessee Titans (0-2) at MetLife Stadium.
Meanwhile, Dart wasn't the only Giants player who flew home with an injury.
Outside linebacker Brian Burns suffered a low ankle sprain, and left tackle Andrew Thomas (groin) did not finish the game. Additionally, Malik Nabers injured his shoulder, but the wide receiver was able to return in the first half.
"You deal with all the different challenges that you face and all the different adversity that you face, for sure," Harbaugh said. "And even the prosperity, you learned that last week, you faced some of the prosperity and prosperity sometimes can be more dangerous than adversity. All these challenges to put your best effort out there, play your best football, so you can win a football game. And we're going to do that. These guys are going to do that. That's what you get excited about. The prospect of our team playing the best football that they can play. And that's what we're working on, working as hard as we can, working like crazy as a football team to do that all together. And the other teams are doing the same thing. And that's what makes it so compelling. That's why these games are so interesting. It's why everybody watches football. It's high-level drama, and we'll be right in the middle of it. We'll be fighting every step of the way."
Matt Citak: Losing your starting quarterback on the first drive of the game would certainly be a tough blow for any team. But even after Dart left the game with a knee injury, the Giants' offense had opportunities to put points on the board. With Jameis Winston on the field, the Giants got the ball to at least the 50-yard line, if not beyond, on six of their remaining nine drives. That included two trips to the red zone, and one that began with a first-and-five inside the Rams' 10-yard line after an offsides penalty. And yet, the Giants finished the game with just six total points as the unit struggled to find its footing after Dart went down. Now the Rams' defense is one of the best in the league, and the group seemed to get a motivational boost with the return of Aaron Donald. But as Harbaugh said after the game, there needs to be improvement across the board.
"We need to have answers," the head coach said about the offense's struggles. "We had answers last week. We didn't have answers this week to get the ball in the end zone. So play calling, game planning, execution, all those things are part of it. And that's why I say, we talked to the guys in here, nobody's saying, 'Hey, you need to do this better.' We all need to do everything better because players making plays is an extension of coaches doing a great job of game planning and game calling and vice versa. It all works hand in hand. And so really, in a team game like this, it's team responsibility. We've got to do better."
One of the lone bright spots in the game was the play of Jevón Holland. The veteran safety got the Giants' first takeaway of the game when he intercepted a Matthew Stafford pass deep down field. The offense then went three-and-out and punted the ball back to the Rams, and on the very next play, Holland punched the ball out of Kyren Williams' hands and recovered it himself to set up the Giants' first field goal. He went on to force another fumble while also finishing tied for the team-lead with eight total tackles (five solo). He became the only Giants player in the last 30 seasons to have an interception and force multiple fumbles in a single game. Meanwhile, Holland became the first player to have an interception, multiple forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight or more total tackles in a game since Pittsburgh's James Harrison in 2007. This came after he intercepted Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the season opener, as well. While it's only been two games, Holland seems to have made a big jump from last year, which could prove to be invaluable given the injuries in the secondary.
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2026 cycle.
DL C.J. Ravenell - Practice Squad Exception (September 22)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (September 22)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
DB Elijah Jones - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
CB Nikko Reed - Free Agent Signing (from LAC PS) (September 18)
CB Paulson Adebo - Reserve/Injured (September 18)
CB Jaden Robinson - Practice Squad (September 17)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 17)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 16)
WR Dalen Cambre - Practice Squad (September 16)
RB Phil Mafah - Practice Squad (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Waived, No Recall (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (September 12)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
WR Darius Slayton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
G Jon Runyan Jr. - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
QB Jameis Winston - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
LB Malik Harrison - Practice Squad Veteran (September 3)
DL Ben Barten - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 3)
OL Geno VanDeMark - Practice Squad (September 2)
DB JT Woods - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Practice Squad (September 1)
WR Charlie Jones - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
OL Darian Kinnard - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
DB Elijah Jones - Practice Squad Exception (September 1)
DL Ben Barten, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, DB Raheem Layne, LB Chandler Martin, OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (August 31)
WR Braxton Berrios, WR Jalin Hyatt, DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (August 31)
QB Jake Haener, DB J.T. Woods - Practice Squad Exception (August 31)
OL Jarrod Gray - International Practice Player Signing (August 31)
CB Korie Black - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 30)
CB Art Green, K Ben Sauls - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 30)
DL Anquin Barnes Jr., DL Ben Barten, S Beau Brade, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Eric Gray, OL Jarrod Gray, QB Jake Haener, WR Jalin Hyatt, OL Jake Kubas, LB Chandler Martin, LB Darius Muasau, OLB Caleb Murphy, DL Zacch Pickens, OL Ryan Schernecke, S J.T. Woods - Waived, No Recall (August 30)
QB Brandon Allen, WR Braxton Berrios, TE Tanner Conner, DL Marlon Davidson, OLB Khalid Kareem, S Raheem Layne, OL Evan Neal, OL Lucas Patrick, DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 30)
RB Damon Bankston, LB Anfernee Orji, WR Kobe Prentice - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
CB Ugo Amadi, TE Josiah Deguara, DL Leki Fotu, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OL Brenden Jaimes - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Calvin Austin III - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Traded (to KC) for 2028 Seventh Round Pick (August 26)
TE Josiah Deguara - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Kobe Prentice - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Ryan Miller - Waived, No Recall (August 24)
DL Ben Barten - Claimed (off waivers from NYJ) (August 19)
OL Daniel Faalele - Traded (to JAX) for 2027 Sixth Round Pick (August 18)
RB Najee Harris - Free Agent Signing (August 18)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 18)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
LB Chandler Martin - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
RB Dante Miller - Waived/Injured (August 17)
DB Sam Webb - Reserve/Retired (August 16)
DB Ugo Amadi - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
DB Sam Webb - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
CB David Long Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 13)
CB DJ James - Waived/Injured (August 13)
S JT Woods - Free Agent Signing (August 10)
DL Sam Roberts - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 10)
OL Brenden Jaimes - Free Agent Signing (August 8)
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - Waived/Injured (August 7)
FB Grant Finley - Free Agent Signing (August 6)
TE Tyler Moore - Waived, No Recall (August 6)
DB David Long Jr. - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DB D.J. James - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DL Roy Robertson-Harris - Reserve/Injured (August 5)
WR Beaux Collins - Waived/Injured (August 5)
LB Anfernee Orji - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
DL Ben Barten - Waived, No Recall (July 30)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Sam Roberts - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Marlon Davidson - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
TE Tyler Moore - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Waived, Non-Football Injury (July 25)
LB Cam Jones - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Claimed (off waivers from TEN) (July 7)
CB Rico Payton - Waived/Injured (July 7)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Free Agent Signing (June 2)
K Jason Sanders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 2)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
OL Jarrod Gray - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (June 1)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (June 1)
LS Zach Triner - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 1)
LB Arvell Reese - Selection List Signing (May 29)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selection List Signing (May 27)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing (May 27)
T Reid Holskey - Waived, No Recall (May 27)
OLB Khalid Kareem - Free Agent Signing (May 14)
CB Thaddeus Dixon - Reserve/Injured (May 14)
CB Colton Hood - Selection List Signing (May 12)
RB Damon Bankston - Free Agent Signing (May 8)
WR Malachi Fields - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
OL J.C. Davis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
LB Jack Kelly - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DT Anquin Barnes, DL Ben Barten, CB Thaddeus Dixon, LS Ben Mann, OL Ryan Schernecke, K Dominic Zvada - Free Agent Signing (May 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Elijah Chatman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
WR Courtney Jackson - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Marlon Tuipulotu - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 7)
DL DJ Reader - Free Agent Signing (May 6)
DL Zacch Pickens - Claimed off Waivers from KC (May 5)
DL Leki Fotu - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
DL Shelby Harris - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 25)
LB Jack Kelly - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 193 overall) (April 25)
OL J.C. Davis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 192 overall) (April 25)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 186 overall) (April 25)
WR Malachi Fields - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 74 overall) (April 24)
CB Colton Hood - Selected in the 2nd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 37 overall) (April 24)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 10 overall) (April 23)
LB Arvell Reese - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 5 overall) (April 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Traded (to CIN) for 2026 First Round Pick (No. 10 overall) (April 19)
QB Brandon Allen - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 13)
OL Daniel Faalele - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
WR Ryan Miller - Exclusive Rights Signing (April 7)
OL Lucas Patrick - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 6)
WR Da'Quan Felton, DB Patrick McMorris, DB T.J. Moore, DB Myles Purchase - Waived, No Recall (April 6)
K Graham Gano - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 30)
LB Cam Jones - Free Agent Signing (March 25)
LS Zach Triner - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
DL Sam Roberts - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
DB Elijah Campbell - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 20)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
WR Darnell Mooney - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
S Jason Pinnock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Calvin Austin III - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Zaire Barnes - Free Agent Signing (March 14)
P Jordan Stout - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
CB Greg Newsome II - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
S Ar'Darius Washington - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
CB Art Green - Re-signed (March 12)
TE Isaiah Likely - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
FB Patrick Ricard - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
LB Tremaine Edmunds - Free Agent Signing (March 12)
T Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
K Jason Sanders - Free Agent Signing (March 11)
Chris Board - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
P Jamie Gillan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
OL Evan Neal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
LB Micah McFadden - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
OLB Caleb Murphy - Re-signed (March 10)
S Anthony Johnson - Waived, No Recall (March 10)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Re-signed (March 6)
T James Hudson III - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 6)
LB Bobby Okereke - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
WR Courtney Jackson - Free Agent Signing (February 13)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Reserve/Future (January 22)
DT Marlon Tuipulotu - Reserve/Future (January 13)
G Jake Kubas - Reserve/Future (January 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Reserve/Future (January 5)
TE Tanner Conner - Reserve/Future (January 5)
OLB Trace Ford - Reserve/Future (January 5)
T Reid Holskey - Reserve/Future (January 5)
S Patrick McMorris - Reserve/Future (January 5)
CB Myles Purchase - Reserve/Future (January 5)
