After the New York Giants acquired J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings in late September 2026 for a 2027 fifth-round pick, the former first-round quarterback walked straight into a crowded room.
And at first, there really wasn’t much mystery about where he stood.
McCarthy was the Giants’ third-string quarterback before Week 4. He was new to the offense, still learning the system and clearly behind the other options already in the building.
Now, though, things are starting to move.
With the quarterback depth chart reshuffling, McCarthy has a legitimate chance to climb into the No. 2 role behind Jameis Winston.
J.J. McCarthy Could Move Into Giants’ Backup Quarterback Role
With starter Jaxson Dart sidelined for the season because of a knee injury, Winston took over as the Giants’ No. 1 quarterback.
Jake Haener initially served as the primary backup, while McCarthy was still getting acclimated after joining the team only days earlier.
For New York’s Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals, McCarthy dressed as the third quarterback. The Giants activated all three quarterbacks and even prepared a limited package of plays for him.
Now, stay with me here, because that did not mean New York was planning to throw McCarthy into the game for an extended stretch.
Head coach John Harbaugh later explained that the Giants simply wanted him available in case there was a situation where one of those special packages made sense.
McCarthy never entered the game.
But things changed quickly after that.
John Harbaugh Says J.J. McCarthy Promotion Is ‘On the Table’
On Monday, October 5, Harbaugh told reporters that McCarthy moving into the No. 2 spot behind Winston for Week 5 against the Washington Commanders was a legitimate possibility.
“I think that’s a possibility. We’ll see how it goes during the week, but that’s definitely on the table,” Harbaugh said.
That is a meaningful change.
The coaching staff has apparently liked what it has seen from McCarthy in practice, and moving him ahead of Haener would be the first real sign that the Giants are becoming more comfortable with what he can handle.
Of course, becoming the backup is one thing.
Becoming the starter is a very different conversation.
Jameis Winston Remains Firmly Ahead of J.J. McCarthy
For now, Winston is the clear No. 1 quarterback.
Harbaugh has consistently backed him since Dart suffered the season-ending knee injury in Week 2, and nothing he has said suggests the Giants are preparing for an immediate change.
McCarthy only arrived in late September.
He was still the third-string quarterback in Week 4.
He dressed, had a few special plays available if needed and never saw the field.
That is not exactly the profile of a player who is about to take over
