NY Giants QB change might have to wait as Jameis Winston responds amid JJ McCarthy chants from fans

The New York Giants have Jameis Winston as QB1 while J.J. McCarthy waits for his chance on the bench.

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Updated on October 04, 2026 02:25PM EDT

**© Al Bello/Getty Images**J.J. McCarthy of the New York Giants warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury changed the New York Giants‘ plans at quarterback. Even though they had Jameis Winston ready for this kind of scenario, the arrival of J.J. McCarthy is giving John Harbaugh an intriguing alternative at the position.

The head coach made sure to back Winston ever since he took over, but the quarterback’s performance raised questions on whether the Giants should reconsider the order of their QB depth chart.

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Early in the Week 4 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Winston’s level led Connor Hughes of SNY to believe that a change could be just a matter of time. “Jameis Winston has guys open. He’s just not throwing to them. His time as a starter might not be much longer,” he wrote on X.

Winston gets his first TDs of 2026 with NY Giants

Hughes’ post came as the Giants’ offense got off to a weak start against the Cardinals. And it came only a week after an ugly win over the Tennessee Titans, in which the Giants failed to score a touchdown. A week before that, Winston struggled replacing Dart against the Rams in Los Angeles.

With McCarthy on the active roster, some fans at MetLife Stadium already started to campaign for him to take over. “And we have our first ‘JJ’ chant for “J.J. McCarthy from a small group of Giants fans …,” Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post wrote on X.

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However, Winston immediately responded with two touchdown passes, first finding Malachi Fields in the end zone before connecting with Malik Nabers for the star wideout’s first touchdown of the 2026 NFL season.

A QB situation to watch in New York

Though McCarthy couldn’t live up to the expectations with the Minnesota Vikings, Giants fans are excited to see what the Michigan Wolverines can do after the change of scenery.

The 23-year-old is seen as a quarterback with more upside than Winston, who may have reached his ceiling as a backup journeyman at 32. Only time will tell us whether Winston proves his doubters wrong or if Harbaugh ultimately agrees with the Giants fans chanting for McCarthy.

Key takeaways

A season-ending injury to Jaxson Dart altered the Giants’ quarterback plans.
Jameis Winston threw for his first touchdown passes of the 2026 season in Week 4.
Chants for J.J. McCarthy broke out from fans at MetLife Stadium shortly before.

Martín O’Donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Now, as the Managing Editor on Bolavip since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.