Adam Thielen has named Jimmy Garoppolo as the New York Giants’ best option to replace Jaxson Dart after the rookie quarterback suffered a season-ending knee injury. Speaking on ESPN’s NFL Live, Thielen called the Giants “a playoff caliber team” with Dart but stressed the need for the franchise to act decisively in their quarterback room to keep their postseason hopes alive.
With Dart sidelined, Giants head coach John Harbaugh has said he remains hopeful the young quarterback will return at some point in the playoffs. However, the team must first secure a postseason berth without him. Thielen urged the Giants to “do whatever it takes to win now,” adding, “You’re going to be fired if you don’t win games.”
Thielen singled out Garoppolo as the ideal candidate to lead the Giants through this challenging period. “I like Jimmy Garoppolo,” he said. “He’s proven to win games and he can run a system. He’s also familiar with a coaching staff who likes to run it a certain way. He doesn’t need to drop back 40 times a game because they don’t need that in this system.”
Garoppolo’s NFL career has been marked by highs and lows. He led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season and the NFC title game in 2021. Despite some notable mistakes, including a safety conceded against the Denver Broncos in 2022, Garoppolo has shown he can manage a run-heavy offense without relying heavily on passing attempts. Since losing his starting job in San Francisco to Trey Lance and later Brock Purdy, Garoppolo has had brief spells with the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants currently have Jameis Winston as their starting quarterback following Dart’s injury. Harbaugh has committed to Winston for the time being but has not closed the door on Dart returning if the Giants reach the playoffs.
Another quarterback name emerging as a potential option is Minnesota Vikings’ JJ McCarthy. McCarthy lost his starting role to Kyler Murray before the current season and could be considered by the Giants in their search for a capable backup or replacement.
Thielen’s comments come amid growing pressure on the Giants’ management to stabilize their quarterback situation quickly. The team’s playoff ambitions hinge on finding reliable leadership under center, especially with Dart out for the season.
Harbaugh’s current approach relies on Winston, but the suggestion of Garoppolo brings a veteran presence familiar with a similar coaching style and offensive system. Whether the Giants pursue Garoppolo or explore other alternatives remains unconfirmed.
For now, the Giants face a critical stretch without their rookie starter as they try to stay in the playoff race. Thielen’s endorsement of Garoppolo highlights an experienced option that could help the team maintain momentum while Dart recuperates.
According to Yahoo Sports.