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One of J.J. McCarthy’s former teammates is excited for the quarterback’s Giants chance.
In fact, Adam Thielen thinks the signal-caller brings something “incredible” to the table that can help Big Blue.
McCarthy will make his first start for the Giants on Sunday against the Texans, officially taking things over from Jameis Winston, who had been starting in place of the injured Jaxson Dart.
Thielen, a teammate of McCarthy’s in Minnesota last season, said on SiriusXM this week that the Michigan product has a great deep ball that should help the Giants’ offense. But developing more finesse would go a long way, Thielen added.
“Honestly, I think the best thing he does is the deep ball. He throws the best deep ball that I’ve seen in a long time,” the retired two-time Pro Bowler said. “I mean, it is, it is, it is incredible. I think the big thing that — the big question when he was in Minnesota was like, can he throw the touch balls and the layered balls like — like you see [49ers quarterback] Brock Purdy throw? I mean, there’s so many examples in that game [Monday]. I’m like, man, that if J.J. can develop some of that, like watch out because he’s got every other tool in his back pocket.”
McCarthy saw his first extended Giants action in Sunday’s loss to the Saints, when he completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed twice for 26 yards.
While a comeback against New Orleans ultimately fell short, head coach John Harbaugh on Sunday commended McCarthy for what he did to keep the Giants in the game.
“He did a heck of a job given the circumstances and kind of desperation time,” Harbaugh said. “It’s different than normal football, but made some plays and gives us a chance to win the game. We’re throwing the ball in the end zone at the end so that was good. You have to compliment him on that.”
Thielen spoke to McCarthy’s character and said teammates enjoy being around the quarterback and his genuine enthusiasm for the game.
“He’s a gamer. Man, everyone loves him,” Thielen added. “Like again, we kind of go back to how we started the show, is everyone loves him. Like on the sideline, they’re dapping him up, they’re saying, ‘Man, thanks for the effort.’
‘Cause everyone loves him. Everyone loves being around him. They love his energy, and his attitude, and his mindset. Like, he is a gamer, and you can’t — you can’t teach that. And so, if we can develop some of this and kind of rein it in and put the right offense around him, I think it’s gonna be really fun to watch.”
McCarthy, a 2023 national champ with Michigan, will match up this weekend against a familiar rival in CJ Stroud, who was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year with Ohio State.
McCarthy, with three touchdown passes, beat Stroud’s Buckeyes during a 2022 meeting in Columbus. Sunday will mark the first time they’ll do battle against each other as pros.