Giants pivot to J.J. McCarthy as starting QB after surprising comeback bid

Giants pivot to J.J. McCarthy as starting QB after surprising comeback bid.

Key points

• USA TODAY Sports' Jacob Camenker breaks down five must-add fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 7, including Germie Bernard and Omar Cooper Jr.
• McCarthy will replace Jameis Winston as the team's starting signal-caller for the Week 7 game against the Houston Texans, Harbaugh confirmed on Wednesday, Oct.
• 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had been demoted to the third string after losing the starting quarterback competition to Kyler Murray over the summer.
• Winston took over the lead role after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
• Against the Saints, nevertheless, Winston threw two interceptions and was pulled early in the fourth quarter with New York trailing by 24 points.

Giants pivot to J.J. McCarthy as starting QB after surprising comeback bid. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz USA TODAY. Week 7 fantasy pickups: Germie Bernard, Michael Penix Jr. And more.

New York Giants coach John Harbaugh wasn't ready to entertain a quarterback change in the immediate aftermath of a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 18.

In practice, a few days afterwards, the heavily anticipated switch behind center is reportedly coming to fruition.

J.J. McCarthy will replace Jameis Winston as the team's starting signal-caller for the Week 7 game against the Houston Texans, Harbaugh confirmed on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

"He's got the game plan down, " Harbaugh remarked in a news conference. "I think he had it down last week pretty fully, even more so this week. It has been tailored a little more toward his direction probably, but he'll be ready to go."

Winston took over the lead role after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 12th-year veteran was largely uneven in his first three starts, but the Giants went 2-0-1 during that span and seized the NFC East lead.

Against the Saints, nevertheless, Winston threw two interceptions and was pulled early in the fourth quarter with New York trailing by 24 points. McCarthy, nevertheless, led three scoring drives to bring New York within striking distance of a stunning comeback. His fourth-down throw to the end zone sailed incomplete to end the rally.

McCarthy finished with 243 yards and a touchdown and one interception on 11-of-21 passing.

After the game, Harbaugh stifled any talk of an immediate change, saying such a move was "not even up for discussion or conversation right now." A day afterwards, even so, he noted the coaching staff was "honing in on a decision."

"I thought Jameis has done a tremendous job, won us games, played well, " Harbaugh remarked Wednesday. "As we go forward here, this is going to be our direction. We think it gives us some good options on offense."

According to Harbaugh, while the team's plan could change over the course of season, the Giants at present pln to keep McCarthy as their starter for the rest of the campaign rather than evaluate the setup on a weekly basis.

"I would never say that anything is permanent in football or life, " Harbaugh remarked. "(But) that's the plan going forward."

McCarthy, whom the Giants acquired on Sept. 28 in the aftermath of Dart's injury, is due to create his first start for his new team after the unceremonious end to his run with the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to being dealt, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had been demoted to the third string after losing the starting quarterback competition to Kyler Murray over the summer.

"Everything about this place, it feels very fitting for me, " McCarthy remarked Wednesday.

McCarthy will take on a Texans defense that struggled in the early going to follow-up on last year's dominant campaign, in which the unit allowed the fewest yards per game in the NFL. After allowing more points than any AFC team through four weeks, head coach DeMeco Ryans took back play-calling responsibilities from defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, giants pivot to J.J. McCarthy as starting QB after surprising comeback bid is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.