Giants name J.J. McCarthy starting quarterback over Jameis Winston for Texans game
In short
The New York Giants will start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback on Sunday against the Houston Texans, with Jameis Winston moving to backup. Coach John Harbaugh announced the change after practice on Wednesday, following McCarthy's 243-yard fourth-quarter showing in a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
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The New York Giants will start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback on Sunday against the Houston Texans, replacing Jameis Winston. Fox News, citing ESPN, reported on Oct. 21 that the Giants were benching Winston, and Reuters published a report headlined that McCarthy would start against the Texans. Coach John Harbaugh then made the decision official on Wednesday after practice, according to the Boston Globe and Newsweek. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
"We will be starting J.J. in the game, Jameis will be the backup and Jake will be the No. 3 emergency quarterback," Harbaugh said, according to Newsweek. "He's got the game plan down," he added, and the Boston Globe quotes him saying McCarthy can throw and has picked up the offense quickly. Harbaugh said the choice gives the Giants the best chance to play their best offense, and that Winston had done a tremendous job and won games, the Globe reported. [ 4 , 6 ]
The move follows the Giants' 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. McCarthy replaced Winston with the Giants down 34-10 in the fourth quarter. According to Fox News, he threw an interception on his first possession and then led three scoring drives. He finished 11 of 21 for 243 yards and one touchdown, a 24-yard pass to Isaiah Likely, and his fourth-down pass from the Saints' 14-yard line sailed high with the Giants trailing by seven. Winston threw two interceptions before being replaced. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
The Giants are 3-2-1 and are starting a third quarterback in seven games, according to the Boston Globe. Winston had started the previous four games since Jaxson Dart was sidelined by a knee injury, and the Giants went 2-1-1 in them, Fox News said. Newsweek says Dart is out for the rest of the season, while the Globe describes him as sidelined for the foreseeable future. The Giants have their bye week after the Texans game, the Globe said. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Fox News said the Giants acquired McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings less than a month ago. Newsweek reported that he was drafted 10th overall in 2024. It said he missed his rookie season after tearing his meniscus in the preseason and played in 10 games as the starter last season, missing seven contests because of injuries. Newsweek says the Saints game was his Giants debut, while Fox News says he was used in packages in the Giants' 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders in Week 5. [ 2 , 4 ]
Asked whether McCarthy is the long-term answer, Harbaugh said, "Life is day-to-day, minute-to-minute. There's really no guarantees," according to Newsweek. Winston, who has completed 57 percent of his passes for 957 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions this season, said of the Saints game that it "wasn't what it was capable of being," the Boston Globe reported. Newsweek also published a report on Winston's reaction to losing his starting job. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The change makes McCarthy the third Giants starting quarterback in seven games. Harbaugh said he cannot call any arrangement permanent, so the long-term quarterback position remains open.
Key facts
- The Giants will start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback on Sunday against the Houston Texans, with Jameis Winston as backup and Jake as the No. 3 emergency quarterback, Harbaugh said. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Fox News, citing ESPN, reported that the Giants were benching Winston to start McCarthy. [ 2 ]
- McCarthy replaced Winston with the Giants down 34-10 in the fourth quarter against the Saints, and the Giants lost 34-27. [ 2 , 6 ]
- McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown against the Saints. [ 2 , 6 ]
- Winston threw two interceptions against the Saints. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Giants acquired McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings less than a month ago. [ 2 ]
- The Giants are 3-2-1 and have their bye week after the Texans game. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- McCarthy will start for the Giants against the Texans on Sunday in place of Winston. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Harbaugh announced the decision on Wednesday and said McCarthy has the game plan down. [ 4 , 6 ]
- McCarthy came on in the fourth quarter of the 34-27 loss to the Saints, completing 11 passes for 243 yards. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- Winston threw two interceptions in the loss to the Saints. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether McCarthy will remain the Giants' starter beyond Sunday. Harbaugh said there are no guarantees and that he would never say anything is permanent, according to Newsweek.
- Whether the Saints game was McCarthy's Giants debut. Newsweek says he made his Giants debut in that game, while Fox News says he was used in packages in the Week 5 tie with the Washington Commanders.
- How long quarterback Jaxson Dart will be out. Newsweek says his knee injury in Week 2 requires him to miss the rest of the season, while the Boston Globe says he is sidelined for the foreseeable future.
- What Winston said in response to being benched. Only a short summary of the Newsweek item on his reaction is available; the Boston Globe quotes his comments on the Saints game.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Fox News publishes a report, citing ESPN, that the Giants are benching Winston and starting McCarthy. [ 2 ]
- Reuters publishes a report that McCarthy will start against the Texans. [ 3 ]
- Newsweek publishes Harbaugh's statement that McCarthy will start, Winston will be the backup and Jake will be the No. 3 emergency quarterback. [ 4 ]
- Newsweek publishes a report on Winston's reaction to losing his starting job. [ 5 ]
- The Boston Globe publishes its report of Harbaugh's announcement from East Rutherford. [ 6 ]