The New York Giants are turning the page at the quarterback position. Following a dramatic late-game surge in Week 6 and mounting struggles from veteran Jameis Winston, the Giants are planning to start J.J. McCarthy under center for Sunday’s upcoming matchup against the Houston Texans, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
The decision marks a major milestone for the 23-year-old quarterback, who was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After signing a four-year, $21.85 million rookie contract with Minnesota prior to missing his entire debut season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee, McCarthy’s trajectory shifted dramatically in September 2026. The Vikings traded the young signal-caller to the Giants in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, bringing him to New York to bolster their offensive depth.
Initially slotting into a backup role and being utilized in specialized change-of-pace packages designed to showcase his mobility and scrambling ability, McCarthy’s patience has quickly paid off. The turning point arrived during Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. With Winston struggling to spark an offense that had fallen behind by a daunting 34-10 deficit, Giants head coach John Harbaugh turned to McCarthy in the fourth quarter to try to salvage the game.
McCarthy immediately injected life into the New York offense, nearly engineering a remarkable comeback by leading the team on three consecutive scoring drives. In his extended relief appearance, the young quarterback completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, tossing one touchdown against one interception. That impressive flash of production proved decisive in the coaching staff’s internal evaluations leading into Week 7.
While New York briefly considered holding off on a permanent switch until after their scheduled Week 8 bye week, the urgency to spark an inconsistent offense won out. McCarthy now steps into the starting role facing a formidable test against the Houston Texans defense. Although the Texans boast a fearsome reputation on the defensive side of the ball, they have shown vulnerability through six weeks of the 2026 season, surrendering 30 or more points in three of their games. Entering Sunday’s contest, Houston holds an overall quarterback rating against of 91.1.
McCarthy’s ascension to the starting lineup brings a fresh dynamic to an offense that previously leaned heavily on Winston’s veteran presence. Scouts and analysts have long praised McCarthy’s strong arm and high-end athletic traits—attributes that helped him secure a standout collegiate career at Michigan, where he flashed dual-threat capability by rushing for 632 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, questions regarding his professional readiness have lingered, stemming from a limited volume of pass attempts during his college tenure in run-heavy schemes, followed by a lost rookie year spent entirely on the rehab sideline.
Now, thrust into the starting role in East Rutherford, McCarthy will have the opportunity to prove that his preseason promise and his late-game heroics in New Orleans are signs of things to come. With Sunday’s kickoff looming against Houston, the Giants’ offense officially enters a new era under their young quarterback.
