J.J. McCarthy will start at quarterback for the New York Giants in their upcoming game against the Houston Texans, the team announced this week. The decision follows McCarthy’s late-game performance in a 34–27 loss to the New Orleans Saints, where he replaced Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter and led a spirited comeback attempt.
McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. When he came on, the Giants trailed 34–10 but managed to score three times under his leadership, narrowing the deficit to a single touchdown. Their final chance fell short at the Saints’ 14-yard line. The Giants lost, but McCarthy’s display earned him the starting spot for the October 25 meeting with Houston.
Winston, who had started the previous four games, will move to the backup role after McCarthy’s promotion. Winston had been filling in after Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury. In those four starts, Winston’s record stood at two wins, one loss, and one tie. He threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 27–27 draw against the Washington Commanders. However, Winston’s performance against New Orleans was less steady, with two second-half interceptions overshadowing his 14 completions from 26 attempts for 152 yards and a touchdown.
McCarthy, a former 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, joined the Giants earlier this season after starting 10 games for Minnesota in 2025. Last year, he threw for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His mobility has drawn attention from the Giants’ coaching staff, with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy noting that McCarthy’s athleticism could open up new possibilities for the offense. Nagy suggested that McCarthy’s movement skills might allow the team to reuse concepts previously employed with Dart, adding dimension to both passing and running plays.
The new starter has credited Jaxson Dart with helping him get comfortable within the Giants’ system. McCarthy said he spoke with Dart after the announcement and described their relationship as positive. “I talked to him today, just normal conversation. We’re both just rooting for each other,” McCarthy explained. “And like I told him, I’m doing the same thing that you want, is help win the football games for this organization and do everything we can and be the best versions of ourselves every day to help the collective. It’s been great conversation. I love Jaxson. We’ve worked with the same QB coach out in California for a long time so we have a prior relationship.”
Dart’s assistance has helped McCarthy prepare for his first start with the Giants, reinforcing the quarterback’s understanding of the offense. The Texans enter their game at 2-4, having won their last two contests.
McCarthy’s first start for New York will test how well he can translate his athletic ability into consistent execution. With Winston set to back him up, the Giants hope McCarthy can provide a spark as they seek to improve their standing this season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
