John Harbaugh confirms suspicion about J.J. McCarthy, and Giants’ QB situation takes a major turn
The New York Giants will start McCarthy and bench veteran Jameis Winston against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh confirmed a suspicion about the team’s quarterback situation. As expected, the staff decided J.J. McCarthy will start for the Giants against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
McCarthy entered the game against the New Orleans Saints last week and delivered an offensive spark. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, with a 90.0 passer rating.
That outing came after a rough stretch for New York with Jameis Winston as the starter in terms of individual performance. Winston started the past four games and has completed 57% of his passes for 957 yards, with seven touchdown passes and five interceptions. His passer rating sits at 76.4.
Giants have already given indications of QB change
Harbaugh said Monday that he was analyzing the quarterback situation, and the direction was clear from that point. Generally, when coaches use that language early in the week, a quarterback change is coming. That’s exactly what happened in New York.
McCarthy could hold the job beyond this week. With Jaxson Dart out for the season with a knee injury, the Giants need to look toward the future and find out what they have in their long-term options.
McCarthy is a long-term alternative in the QB room
The Giants have three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster: McCarthy, Winston, and Jake Haener. Of that group, McCarthy is the clear long-term bet. He is under contract through 2027, and the team holds a club option for 2028.
That gives New York a potential backup quarterback for the future. It also opens the door for a possible quarterback competition with Dart. If the starter doesn’t return well from his knee injury, or if he isn’t performing well down the road, McCarthy would already be on the roster as an alternative.
That’s why the Giants acquired McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings. It also explains why New York was willing to give up a fifth-round pick for the quarterback.
Winston’s situation is different. He signed a two-year deal with the Giants in 2025, then agreed to a two-year extension this year. Technically, he is under contract through 2028.
Winston also has a guaranteed salary in 2027, but that figure is only $6.15 million. Therefore, the Giants could move on from that deal if they want to, potentially through a trade. Winston could also serve as a third-string option if necessary.
Tough defense to start against
The Texans present a difficult matchup for the Giants. Houston has a strong defense, and McCarthy won’t get an easy introduction as the starter. Still, New York wants to see what it has in the young quarterback and what he can do under these circumstances.
Starting a 23-year-old makes sense, especially because this is a transitional period for the Giants. Winston brings more experience, but it wasn’t being translated into solid play. Therefore, giving a chance to a younger player with a higher ceiling is a predictable move at this point.
