The New York Giants are doubling down on a strange quarterback experiment. Even though Jameis Winston just led a massive fourth-quarter comeback to tie the Washington Commanders, head coach John Harbaugh says J.J. McCarthy could see even more work. This move makes zero sense for a team trying to win right now. Why mess with a winning formula just to test a backup who has played five snaps total?
Harbaugh told local reporters on Wednesday that the team is not done with McCarthy’s special plays. He admitted the single package shown in Week 5 was just a starting point. “What you saw is probably not all we have for him right now,” Harbaugh said, according to the Viking Age. “Whether or not he’s out there or not will be determined based on whatever happens. But we’ll see if it’s something that can help us.” That is a vague way to say they want to use a player who hasn’t proven he can win games.
Winston is the Real Answer
Last Sunday, Jameis Winston passed for three touchdowns and 326 yards. He dragged the Giants from a 13-point hole to force overtime against a bad Washington defense. The offense was moving, the crowd was loud, and the result was a tie instead of a loss. Yet the coaching staff seems obsessed with finding a way to get McCarthy involved. McCarthy ran four plays against Washington, but he gained two yards on the day. One pass went for a first down, but a penalty wiped it out. Winston is the guy who can actually beat teams.
McCarthy knows he is in a limited role, but he is eager to help. “It was awesome to be counted on and trusted in critical moments — and really, any time I was out on the field,” he said. He told NJ.com that simply playing felt “invigorating, rejuvenating.” While that is great for his morale, it does not help the Giants win. The team traded a fifth-round pick to get McCarthy after Jaxson Dart went down with a knee injury. Now they are trying to force a niche role for a player who was a bust in Minnesota. The Vikings quit on him after ten uneven starts.
A Dangerous Distraction
Harbaugh calls his roster a “meritocracy,” but mixing quarterbacks based on who looks good in practice is a recipe for disaster. Winston is playing well and the team is in first place in the NFC East. The Giants host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 18, at MetLife Stadium. The Saints have lost three straight games. This is a chance to build momentum, not to run a gadget play for a backup. With 37 rush attempts last season, McCarthy gained 181 yards and four touchdowns while demonstrating scrambling ability. But he also took bad hits that led to injuries. Why risk the season for a small package of plays?
The Giants have found a better use of talent on the other side of the ball. Defensive tackle Darius Alexander is finally getting snaps because he fits a specific plan. “Alexander and defensive end Jihad Ward were New York’s interior rushers on most passing downs,” per Dan Duggan of The Athletic. That is how you use a player: give him a job he can do and let him excel. They should do the same for Winston. Stop the McCarthy experiment, keep the offense simple, and let the starter play.
