Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart briefly leaves game against Georgia after first drive with left ankle injury

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart hobbled to the locker room after No. 16 Ole Miss’ first drive of the game against No. 3 Georgia on Saturday but wasn’t out for long.

Dart was sacked on second down and then threw an interception on third down when his hand was hit on a pass attempt. After the play, Dart limped to the sideline and appeared to be favoring his left leg. Following a brief stint in the injury tent, Dart went to the locker room surrounded by members of Ole Miss’ training staff.

Replays showed that Dart appeared to twist his left ankle on that second-down sack and he clearly wasn’t able to step into the third-down throw, though it’s unclear how much of that had to do with a defender in his face.

Dart had emerged as a fringe Heisman contender following a six-touchdown performance against Arkansas a week ago. And his absence is massive for a No. 16 Ole Miss team that needs to beat Georgia to have any chance at the College Football Playoff. The Rebels already have losses to Kentucky and LSU. It’s highly unlikely a team will make the expanded CFP with a third defeat.

Georgia’s Dan Jackson returned Dart’s interception to the Ole Miss 20-yard line and Bulldogs RB Nate Frazier scored on fourth down to give Georgia a 7-0 lead.

Dart was replaced on Ole Miss’ second drive by freshman QB Austin Simmons and Simmons led the Rebels on a TD drive. Dart was able to return from the locker room during that possession and took back over on Ole Miss’ third drive of the game even though it was clear he was not 100%.