What happened: Jaxson Dart opened the 2026 campaign for the New York Giants in Week 1 at 23 years and 123 days old, making him the youngest quarterback to start an NFL game this season. Following Dart's placement on injured reserve on Sept. 24 and subsequent surgery to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee, J.J. McCarthy started Week 7 for New York at 23 years and 278 days old as the league's second-youngest starting passer.

Why it matters: Despite the quarterback change, the Giants improved to 4-2-1 with a 27-21 road victory at Houston on Sunday and hold the third seed. Adding McCarthy, the 10th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, gave New York a second first-round quarterback to keep the offense on schedule while Dart, the 25th overall pick in 2025, recovers.

What to watch: New York weighs whether to buy or stand pat approaching the NFL trade deadline while McCarthy directs the 4-2-1 squad.