New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart's recent knee surgery turned out well, according to head coach John Harbaugh, but the possibility of him returning during the playoffs appears to be an ambitious target.

Dart underwent surgery last Friday after suffering a torn meniscus during New York's Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The procedure repaired the meniscus while also addressing damage to his MCL and PCL. His ACL was not affected.

“I think it went well,” Harbaugh told reporters Wednesday. “Have you ever heard the doctor tell you it didn't go well? Yeah, the doc said it went well.

“I think it was as expected. I think they saw what they thought they were going to see and just fixed it. The timeline doesn't really change too much.”

Dart's recovery is currently estimated at four to six months. Four months after last Friday's surgery would fall on December 25, putting the earliest point of that window five days before the Giants' Week 16 matchup with the Detroit Lions on December 30. Dart is not expected to be available for that contest or either of New York's final two regular-season games against the Dallas Cowboys on January 3 and the Philadelphia Eagles on January 10.

The postseason schedule does provide a later opportunity. The wild-card round is set for January 16-18, followed by the divisional round the next week. The conference championships are scheduled for January 31, with the Super Bowl scheduled for February 14. Six months after Dart's surgery would be February 25, meaning the quarterback could potentially reach the end of his recovery window around the time the postseason is concluding.

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Harbaugh previously left open the possibility of Dart returning during the playoffs, but he now described that possibility as “maybe a bit ambitious.” Dart, meanwhile, has reportedly been telling people that he expects to return sooner and could be available if the Giants reach the postseason.

New York entered Week 4 tied for first place in the NFC East at 2-1. Dart had helped produce 28 points and nearly 400 yards in the Giants' Week 1 win before his injury. Since Jameis Winston took over at quarterback, however, the offense just hasn't clicked the same way

Through three games, New York ranks near the middle of the NFL in total offense and ninth in points scored, while the defense sits among the league's bottom five in both yards and points allowed. The Giants have acquired JJ McCarthy from the Vikings as another quarterback option, while the team also lost star edge rusher Brian Burns to a torn ACL.

For now, Dart's recovery timeline remains the biggest factor in determining whether his postseason hopes can become reality.