AT A GLANCE

Jaxson Dart injured his knee on the opening drive of the game and did not return as the Giants fell to the Rams, 28-6, on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.

UP NEXT

Following back-to-back primetime games to start the season, the Giants (1-1) return home for a Sunday 1 p.m. kickoff against the Tennessee Tians (0-2). The major storyline will be Dart's status during the shortened week.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Dart suffered the knee injury with 11:20 left in the first quarter. He was originally listed as questionable to return and then ultimately ruled out at halftime.

Dart was hit while attempting a pass on third down, and the Giants punted on the next play. The Giants' defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession, and Jameis Winston took over for the remainder of the game. The veteran backup completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards with an interception.

With one second left in the opening quarter, wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a shoulder injury while attempting to catch a pass near the sideline. He returned later in the second quarter and finished with a single catch for one yard on four targets.

Najee Harris made his Giants debut and had four carries for six yards. The former Pro Bowl running back suited up for the first time since suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 3 of last season with the Chargers. Harris, who began his career with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Steelers, signed with the Giants on Aug. 18.

The Giants faced future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who made his return on Monday night after ending his two-year retirement last month. Donald had last played in a Wild Card loss at Detroit on Jan.14, 2024. He recorded three tackles, including one for a loss, against the Giants.

Last week, the Giants were nearly flawless on third down (9-for-10 before the final knee-down in the victory formation) and perfect in the red zone (4-for-4). On Monday, they converted just three third downs on 14 tries, and could not find the end zone in two trips to the red zone.

Tight end Isaiah Likely was targeted 10 times, third-most of his career, catching five of them for 33 yards.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas suffered a groin injury late in the game.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

The Giants have forced a three-and-out on the opening drive of their first two games for the first time since 2008, when they did it in three consecutive games to start the year.

Jevón Holland forced turnovers on back-to-back snaps for the Rams' during a sequence in the second quarter. First, he intercepted a deep pass from Matthew Stafford intended for Davante Adams. The Giants were forced to punt, and on the next play, Holland punched the ball out of the hands of running back Kyren Williams and the safety recovered it under a pile of players.

Holland is the first Giant to have an interception in his first two games of a season since linebacker Michael Boley started the 2012 campaign with three in a row.

Holland is also the first Giant to have an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery in a single game since cornerback Trumaine McBride on Sept. 25, 2014 at Washington. Additionally, the last Giant to have all three in a single half was safety Vencie Glenn on Oct. 29, 1995, against Washington (also in first half).

Holland wasn't done there. He forced another fumble on Blake Corum in the fourth quarter, but the running back recovered the ball and Stafford threw a touchdown to tight end Terrance Ferguson to put the Rams ahead 28-6.

Despite Holland's efforts, the Giants scored just three points off the takeaways.

The Giants missed two defenders due to injuries. Cornerback Deonte Banks (calf) and linebacker Micah McFadden (neck) were listed as questionable heading into Monday night but did not suit up. Banks started the season opener against Dallas, recording four tackles and breaking up two passes. He also returned two kickoffs for 37 yards. McFadden played 11 snaps in Week 1, all on special teams. Rookie Colton Hood, a second-round pick from Tennessee, made his first career start in place of Banks.

The Rams' offense played shorthanded, missing wide receivers Puka Nacua (hip) and Jordan Whittington (quadricep). But Adams more than made up for them with eight catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns.

Outside linebacker Abdul Carter notched the first sack of the Giants' season midway through the third quarter.

Brian Burns, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, suffered an ankle injury with 6:04 left in the game and was helped off the field.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Dominic Zvada, the undrafted rookie who won the Giants' kicking job over the offseason, made his first two career field goal attempts from 24 and 52 yards, respectively, on Monday night.

The 52-yarder is the third-longest field goal by a Giants rookie kicker behind Ali Haji-Sheikh, who made a pair from 56 yards in 1983.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: QB Jaxson Dart (knee), WR Malik Nabers (shoulder/returned), LT Andrew Thomas (groin), OLB Brian Burns (ankle)

LAR: RB Ronnie Rivers (calf)

INACTIVES

NYG: TE Thomas Fidone II, OL J.C. Davis, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis, DL Darius Alexander, LB Micah McFadden (neck), CB Deonte Banks (calf), S Jason Pinnock

LAR: WR C.J. Daniels, OL Bill Murray, S Kamren Kinchens (hamstring), WR Jordan Whittington (quadricep), WR Puka Nacua (hip), QB Ty Simpson (3^rd QB)

GIANTS GAMEDAY CAPTAINS

Week 2 at LAR: OLB Abdul Carter, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux), QB Jaxson Dart, S Elijah Campbell

Week 1 vs. DAL: OLB Brian Burns, DL Chauncey Golston, P Jordan Stout, OT Andrew Thomas

Preseason Week 3 at NYJ: LG Jon Runyan, S Tyler Nubin, LB Zaire Barnes

Preseason Week 2 at MIA: QB Jameis Winston, LB Micah McFadden, CB Greg Newsome II

Preseason Week 1 vs. MIN: QB Jaxson Dart, P Jordan Stout, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux