Ian Rapoport of NFL Network appeared on the Pat McAfee show and stated that if Jameis Winston’s level “is ok or less than ok,” it’s a real possibility than McCarthy takes the field as soon as he learns the new offense.

This comes after a Week 2 performance that left all Giants fans in disarray. Winston looked unprepared, and it seemed like he didn’t know the playbook very well. Given how Winston has already spent more than a year with the team, it was a very disappointing way of earn in your place.

McCarthy is not clearly better

McCarthy isn’t a polished NFL quarterback at all. In fact, he is also very turnover prone. Still, sometimes a change of quarterback and a change of scenery is just the perfect marriage for a franchise. If Jameis Winston isn’t able to sustain a high level of play, it’s perfectly reasonable for the Giants to see McCarthy as the better option going forward.

McCarthy lost his job in Minnesota to Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. Still, it was just two years ago that the Vikings spent a top 10 pick in the NFL draft to get their hands on McCarthy, who won a National Championship at the collegiate level.

This is a temporary solution

John Harbaugh spoke on McCarthy now that he shares the locker room with Winston. The Giants need to solve this problem as soon as possible because it is a 2026 issue. For next year, they should have Jaxson Dart back under center.

Expectations were very high for this team early in the season. So now they have to deliver even if it means that the second or third string quarterback are needed to do so. For McCarthy, he also opened up about the move to the Giants, and seems eager to take on the challenge.

Key takeaways

• Jameis Winston remains the starting quarterback for the Giants for now.
• Insider Ian Rapoport reported JJ McCarthy could take over if Winston struggles.
• Minnesota originally selected McCarthy as a top 10 NFL draft pick.

“The Giants’ addition of JJ McCarthy is viewed as a move to bolster the backup position behind Jameis Winston, not to supplant him,” Jordan Schultz reported on X. “New York did not feel confident in its options behind Winston and could not afford to go another 15 games without upgrading at QB2.“

After losing Jaxson Dart for the regular season (at least), the Giants rolled into Week 3 of the NFL with Winston at QB1 and Jake Haener, who had been on the practice squad until Dart went down injured in Los Angeles, as the lone backup. On paper, the Giants had two quarterbacks, but in Harbaugh’s mind, it was Winston-or-nothing. That was made clear as New York waived Haener as soon as the trade for McCarthy went through. If he clears waivers, Haener will return to New York’s P-squad.

Clearly, Big Blue needed to bring in a new face, and McCarthy, as scrutinized as his play in the NFL has been, is one Harbaugh may trust and a young backup who can keep New York hopeful even if Winston goes down.

Winston is still QB1, but will face competition

McCarthy may not have proven himself valuable enough to rip Winston’s starting job right out of his hands upon arrival, but he’s shown he can learn fast and has had success in a Harbaugh-minded offense before. Not in the NFL, which is a different beast, but not so long ago either—just three years ago with Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan.

Indeed, Winston will remain the starter, but McCarthy’s presence shortens his leash and reminds him there is now a true battle to be the signal-caller in New York. If Winston can’t find his footing and he isn’t bailed out by the defense, he might lose his starting job in the blink of an eye.

For the time being, McCarthy has work to do learning the offense’s playbook and settling into life in New York. Winston’s role isn’t at stake, but that may change fast. The Giants’ hope remains unchanged, even after watching Dart go down injured and Brian Burns reportedly suffer another serious injury at MetLife Stadium.

J.J. McCarthy’s stats in NFL

So far in his career, McCarthy has played 10 games, all of them in the 2025 NFL season. He’s completed 140 of 243 pass attempts (57.6%) for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

His mobility is a big part of his skill set and something fans in New York may look forward to, as he is more in the middle between Dart and Winston in that aspect. He’s rushed 37 times for 181 yards and four touchdowns. Ball security is something Harbaugh will have to preach, though, as McCarthy has fumbled three times before.

Selected by the Vikings with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy didn’t meet expectations in the Twin Cities. His time in the Land of 10,000 Lakes started off great, with many jumping the gun and calling him the team’s long-awaited franchise quarterback, but things spiraled out of control fast. Still, McCarthy is young, and there is nothing New York loves more than redemption arcs.

Key takeaways

• New York acquired J.J. McCarthy to serve as backup support rather than an immediate replacement.
• Jameis Winston will retain the starting job for the Giants’ Week 4 matchup.
• Through 10 career NFL games, McCarthy has recorded 1,632 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.

After the game, head coach John Harbaugh praised Winston for meeting the demands of the moment. The Giants did not need a spectacular performance from their quarterback; they needed him to execute the plan, protect the football and do enough to put the team in position to win.

Harbaugh’s comments also offered insight into how he viewed Winston’s performance, while leaving the door open for the broader quarterback situation to unfold according to the team’s plans. For now, however, the victory gives Winston another opportunity to remain under center.

Will Giants keep Jameis Winston as starting QB?

Yes. John Harbaugh praised Jameis Winston and sent a clear message of support to the veteran. The head coach had great words for Winston after all the noise during the week.

“I thought Jameis did what was required in this game. The first thing you have to do is what’s necessary. What’s required. After that, then you can do what’s possible. Then maybe the impossible becomes possible. That’s from St. Francis of Assisi, in case you were wondering. I thought he did what was required. He did what was necessary.”

Harbaugh was also asked how much Winston’s performance against Tennessee would influence the decision at quarterback moving forward. The Giants coach made clear that the result would not change the plans already in place, emphasizing that the team would continue evaluating its options.

“Not at all. Not at all. The plans are the plans. The opportunities that you have are the opportunities you have. No matter what, we’re going to do everything we can to make our team as strong as we can based on what options we have.”

After the win over the Titans, Winston is expected to remain the Giants’ QB1 as the team moves forward. His performance delivered what Harbaugh said was required, and the victory gives New York continuity at quarterback while Dart recovers. It also reinforces the value of the contract extension the Giants gave Winston, positioning him as a key factor to stay alive in the playoff race.

Key takeaways

• Jameis Winston led the Giants to a 12-7 victory against the Titans.
• Jaxson Dart missed the Week 3 matchup due to a knee injury.
• John Harbaugh stated the win will not change existing quarterback plans moving forward.

“John Harbaugh expects Jameis Winston to be the starting QB next week, he says, regardless of what moves the Giants make,” as reported by Pat Leonard of NY Daily News Sports.

Although Winston’s performance was abysmal at times and the Giants needed a horrible throw from Cam Ward to be intercepted by safety Jevon Holland (three INTs in 2026) with seconds left in the fourth quarter to defeat the Titans, it seems Harbaugh has seen enough positive things from Winston to guarantee him the starting role when the Cardinals visit MetLife Stadium next weekend.

Winston’s performance against Titans

Coming off a deflating performance against the Los Angeles Rams on Week 2’s Monday Night Football, Giants fans expected Winston to look better against a much weaker Tennessee side and with a full week of preparation and a game plan suited to his abilities.

However—and although the inclement weather in the Northeast of the country didn’t help, either—Winston was in for another head-scratching outing against Robert Saleh’s Titans. Winston finished the day 14-for-22 passing for 118 yards and no touchdowns.

Winston didn’t throw a pick

The former first overall pick in 2015 had no turnovers, though, which is a positive and arguably the main thing New York needed. Against a team as desperate for wins, yet as clueless offensively as the Titans, the Giants couldn’t afford to hand the visitors any free possessions. Perhaps that was a reason why Harbaugh didn’t look too much into Winston’s otherwise poor outing.

With Dart out, at least for the remainder of the regular season, the Giants have made it clear they will address their quarterback room. A signing could happen in the coming days, with New York bringing in another quarterback to compete for the starting role in Dart’s absence.

Sticking with Winston is smart decision

For the time being, Winston won’t be benched, though. Not in Week 4, at least, as an incoming QB would only have a few days to learn the playbook and settle into New York’s offense. The G-Men still believe he is the safest bet in the short term.

If Winston still can’t find his footing as the weeks progress in the NFL season, and if New York starts falling behind in the standings, a change could be in order. For the time being, however, Harbaugh is in no hurry to make a change. At the end of the day, Winston led the Giants to a win in Week 3. What’s not broken needs no fixing appears to be the message coming out of East Rutherford.

It’s a double-edged sword, but until the Giants get cut, they will continue to roll the dice and live out the full Jameis Winston experience in the 2026 NFL campaign.

Key takeaways

• John Harbaugh all but named Jameis Winston as New York’s starting quarterback for Week 4.
• Winston threw for 118 yards and zero touchdowns on 14-of-22 passing against Tennessee.
• The Giants may bring in another quarterback to compete following Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury.

For Winston, this is a role he has been waiting for throughout his career. The former first-round pick has spent recent seasons in backup roles, but he now has an opportunity to show that he can still operate an offense and take advantage of meaningful snaps. The situation is especially significant because Dart had established himself as the Giants’ starting quarterback before suffering the injury.

Winston was asked if he ever imagined finding himself in this position again, with the Giants suddenly becoming his team for the foreseeable future. His response made it clear that, despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Dart’s injury, becoming a starter is exactly the opportunity he has always wanted.

Who is Giants starting QB?

Jameis Winston is the starting quarterback of the New York Giants after Jaxson Dart’s injury. The veteran knows this is a huge chance to prove he has the caliber to be QB1 in the NFL.

“This is what I’ve always dreamed of, to be a starting quarterback. Obviously, my respects and gratitude is just going to be with Jaxson, but at the same time, this is what I dream of. I dream of being what I am right now and executing at a high level.”

Winston was also asked about his mindset knowing that he could now have 15 games ahead of him as the Giants’ starter. He did not want to look too far ahead, instead emphasizing the importance of preparation and taking the season one play at a time.

“One game at a time. Grateful, but just most importantly is just focusing on one game at a time. Doing your best. I just think execution and preparation is the same. You keep on preparing the best you can and go out there and I have to execute better and I am going to execute better. But focusing on one play at a time, one rep at a time, giving it all out for the guys.”

“Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury last night that was worse than anticipated, after the MRI. He’s out an extended period of time, possibly the season,” Ian Rapoport reported on his X account.

As things stand, Jameis Winston is the only other quarterback on the active roster. Jake Haener is on the practice squad and may be called up, but neither is a solid answer for the Giants, who went from Super Bowl hopefuls after their Week 1 win to the same old pessimistic G-Men after the rough Week 2 outing in Los Angeles. Whether it’s before Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans or afterward, it’s clear New York will have to make changes to its QB room.

During Week 2 at SoFi Stadium, the Giants didn’t have a third, emergency quarterback, meaning if Winston caught as much as a cold inside the air-conditioned venue, New York would’ve had to improvise. Such a close-call experience must serve as a lesson for Harbaugh not to put the team in such a spot again.

Winston struggled after Dart went down

After Dart exited the Week 2 Monday Night Football matchup against the Rams, Giants GM Joe Schoen showed optimism, but it may have been in vain. According to reports, Dart wanted to jump right back into the action, but it’s now clear that would’ve been a terrible mistake. The NFL regular season waits for nobody, though, and the show must go on. Even if it’s an act fans in New York would rather look away from.

For the time being, it will be the Winston Show in East Rutherford, and that’s always a one-of-a-kind experience, with great highs but abysmal lows. Against Los Angeles, Winston was unable to get anything going on offense and made a couple of ill-advised throws, including a virtually game-sealing interception inside the red zone in the second quarter.

There was a lot of football left to be played, but that play, when New York was in scoring position, really took the air out of the team’s sails. Or what little was left after the Giants’ woes continued following Dart’s injury, as Malik Nabers momentarily left the game, too.

NY Giants could make changes

Unless Harbaugh and the G-Men want to sign up for a potentially season-long ride on the Winston experience, they must evaluate their options and make changes to their quarterback room. However, the Super Bowl-winning head coach has steered away from confirming the extent of Dart’s injury.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Harbaugh made it clear that “evaluations are ongoing” and no final decision has been made, but the Giants have learned more about where they stand with Dart. Needless to say, it’s not encouraging whatsoever, but it may not be catastrophic. At least for now, New York will hold on to a sliver of hope. It’s not looking good, though.

Giants’ QB depth without Dart

With Dart sidelined—for the long term or short term remains to be confirmed—the Giants only have one active quarterback on the 53-man roster: Winston. That could easily change by activating Jake Haener from the practice squad, and reports also point to Brandon Allen, who was with the team throughout training camp but was released in favor of sticking with Haener.

Allen wouldn’t be a total stranger to Matt Nagy’s offensive playbook and could make sense. However, the Giants could also go after a potential starting quarterback if they’ve had enough of Winston.

Available free agents include Jimmy Garoppolo, Jake Browning and Bailey Zappe, among others. The trade route is another option for the Giants, though that will come at a bigger cost. Still, winning in the NFL always does, and New York is tired of settling for pennies.

Key takeaways

• Jaxson Dart’s knee MRI revealed worse-than-expected damage, potentially sidelining him for the season.
• Backup quarterback Jameis Winston remains the only other passer on the active 53-man roster.
• New York faces the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 while evaluating available quarterback options.

While Puka Nacua’s status for the Week 2 game between the Giants and Rams remains up in the air, there are no doubts about who will play under center. John Harbaugh will rely on Dart to guide the Giants to victory and the G-Men’s first 2-0 start since the 2022 NFL season. As for Sean McVay, he is counting on Stafford to brush off the dust after his rough Week 1 outing in Melbourne, Australia.

It would take a disaster, unfortunate injury, or a big blowout for either New York or Los Angeles to send their backup quarterbacks onto the field, but they both have confidence in them, regardless. Just as the Giants’ and Rams’ running back depth charts for Week 2 are filled with talent, the quarterback rooms in both the City of Angels and the Big Apple are stacked, too.

Backup quarterbacks for Giants at Rams in Week 2

The former first overall pick in 2015, Jameis Winston, will be the Giants’ backup quarterback behind Dart on Monday night. Even if he isn’t on the gridiron, Winston never fails to make his presence felt on the sidelines, and NFL fans should expect no different under the lights in Inglewood, California.

The Rams’ second-string quarterback will be Stetson Bennett IV, the two-time NCAA national champion with the Georgia Bulldogs (2021 and 2022) and a former fourth-round pick in 2023.

Emergency quarterbacks for Rams vs Giants

It’s only on rare occasions that third-string, emergency quarterbacks see the field in the NFL, but it’s always a non-zero chance, regardless. Anything can happen, and teams must stay prepared.

The Giants, however, are rocking a two-man QB room on the active roster and haven’t announced a promotion for practice-squad QB Jake Haener. Thus, if anything happens to both Dart and Winston, it might be time to improvise. If all else fails, Odell Beckham Jr. (who has two touchdown passes to his name in his NFL career) could be lined up at quarterback.

The Rams, on the other hand, do have a third, emergency quarterback on the active roster, none other than 13th overall pick, rookie out of Alabama Ty Simpson.

Dart and Stafford’s stats after Week 1

Dart and the Giants, and Stafford and the Rams couldn’t have had more different starts to the 2026 NFL season. Not only because New York played at home while Los Angeles traveled all the way to the Land Down Under, but also because the G-Men put on a statement performance while the Rams spiraled out of control.

As a result, Dart started the season with a 230-yard, three-touchdown, zero-turnover, 54-rushing-yard performance, while Stafford registered 155 yards, no touchdown passes, and an interception in his debut. More importantly, Dart and the Giants started the year 1-0, whereas Stafford’s Rams are 0-1.

Key takeaways

• Matthew Stafford starts for the Rams and Jaxson Dart leads the Giants on Monday Night Football.
• Stetson Bennett and Jameis Winston, respectively, are the backup QBs.
• Ty Simpson is the third-emergency QB for the Rams, while the Giants haven’t designated one.

The first Sunday Night Football of the 2026 NFL season will feature a heated showdown between two NFC East rivals with star starting quarterbacks. Jaxson Dart and Dak Prescott will go head to head at MetLife Stadium. It will be the second time both franchise QBs meet.

After a busy summer with multiple appearances in television and across the country, Jameis Winston will resume his NFL quarterback duties and be the Giants’ backup signal-caller against the Cowboys. As for the Cowboys, Sam Howell will be the backup quarterback in Week 1 behind Prescott.

Emergency quarterbacks

In the NFL, teams must always brace for the worst and prepare for injuries that could potentially derail even the best of game plans. Although both sides will roll into Sunday night’s matchup with a two-man QB room, they have named their third emergency quarterbacks.

New York will count on Jake Haener as its emergency QB, while Dallas will have Joe Milton III in that role. Both quarterbacks share a similarity in that they were released and re-signed to the practice squad.

Per NFL rules, emergency QBs can only be activated if both the starting and backup quarterbacks are injured. If that happens, both the G-Men and the Boys will be in much more trouble than simply playing Haener or Milton, respectively.

Dart’s stats against Cowboys

Although he’s only played once against Dallas in his NFL career, Dart is 1-0 against America’s Team. Dart earned the win over the Cowboys in Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season and will vie to do so again in Week 1 of the new season. Last year, in his lone appearance against Dem Boys, Dart completed 22 of 32 pass attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 32 yards.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “[Jaxson] Dart has spoken glowingly about Winston’s influence and support. The duo has worked seamlessly over the past 18 months.”

Given how interchangeable backup quarterbacks are in the NFL, this action by Dart might as well have been the deciding point for the Giants to grant Winston the extension.

Dart’s words are backed up by Winston’s reputation

While no one will argue that Jameis Winston is an elite quarterback, he has a reputation of being an incredible teammate and a welcomed addition to any NFL locker room.

Also, as a backup, he is pretty serviceable. Winston goes all out and has a huge arm. However, it’s his mistake-prone style of play that slowly took his ability to be a starter in the NFL. Still, one could argue he is one of the best backups in the league.

Jameis Winston’s NFL stats

Jameis Winston has played 108 regular-season games, throwing for 24,792 passing yards, 156 passing touchdowns, and 113 interceptions. His QB record is 36-53 and has an 86.3 passer rating.

Winston is a former first overall pick back in 2015. He played for four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and now the New York Giants.

The move is especially important because Winston has become more than just a backup since joining the Giants. His experience, leadership and presence around Dart have made him an important part of the quarterback room, and the Giants clearly believe that value is worth protecting.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the contract extension, revealing that the Giants have reached a new agreement with Winston. The deal gives New York additional stability at the most important position on the roster while ensuring that the team will have a veteran capable of stepping in if Dart struggles or misses time.

What is Jameis Winston’s new contract with the Giants?

Jordan Schultz reported that the Giants and Winston have agreed to a two-year, $13 million extension, with the organization viewing the veteran quarterback as an invaluable piece of its current plans. Schultz also highlighted Winston’s importance as a leader and as someone who can help accelerate Dart’s development.

“Breaking: The Giants and QB Jameis Winston have agreed to a 2-year, $13M extension, per sources. Winston has become invaluable to the Giants’ QB room as a leader, a key part of Jaxson Dart’s development, and someone the organization views as the best backup QB in football.”

The extension makes sense from both a short-term and long-term perspective for the Giants. Dart remains the clear priority at quarterback, but having a player with Winston’s experience behind him gives New York significantly more protection than most teams have at the position. If Dart performs as expected, Winston can continue helping him prepare and develop without the pressure of being the starter.

However, the value of the new deal could become even more obvious if Dart encounters problems during the season. Whether because of injury or inconsistent play, the Giants now know they have a veteran quarterback capable of taking over without completely changing their offensive plans. Winston has already demonstrated throughout his career that he can operate an NFL offense and make difficult throws when given the opportunity.

That could become especially important for a Giants team hoping to remain in playoff contention. New York has built an increasingly talented roster around Dart, and losing its starting quarterback for an extended period could otherwise derail those ambitions. Winston gives the Giants a legitimate chance to remain competitive if that scenario occurs.

Ultimately, the two-year extension shows how highly the Giants value Winston. Dart remains the future the organization wants to build around, but New York also understands that having an elite veteran backup can be the difference between a season falling apart and a team staying in the playoff race. With Winston now secured through the next two seasons, the Giants have one of the strongest quarterback situations in the NFL from a depth perspective.

A few days ago, Dart made headlines by introducing Trump at a campaign rally. While the sophomore quarterback has since issued a statement explaining his decision, underlying tensions have noticeably escalated within East Rutherford.

Following a meeting where Dart addressed his teammates, Winston stepped into the spotlight to diffuse the situation. Drawing from his high-profile offseason role as an upcoming Fox Sports correspondent for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Winston leaned on the spirit of global sportsmanship, using a unity-centered perspective to emphasize how a locker room can successfully bridge deeply contrasting cultural and political backgrounds.

“Are we just gonna get mad and say, ‘why are these people from there coming over here?’“ Winston said on Friday, referring to the fans that will visit the United States this summer. “Or are we gonna embrace the diversity that sport brings us?”

John Harbaugh faces an early locker room test

Whenever political beliefs enter a sports environment, personal differences are inevitable. However, the Giants organization likely did not expect linebacker Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart to engage in a public back-and-forth, drawing massive external spotlight to the team’s internal dynamics.

Reports indicate that Dart spoke with his teammates while Carter was absent from that specific session. Though the two players have since communicated and confirmed they remain “brothers” working toward the same competitive goals, the situation remains a delicate line to walk for first-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, who officially took the reins of the Giants this offseason, finds himself managing a sensitive off-the-field narrative before training camp even begins. While it is unrealistic to expect players on opposite sides of a political spectrum to change their core stances, Harbaugh’s primary task will be reinforcing Winston’s underlying message: personal differences will always exist, but once the whistle blows, they must function as one cohesive team.