On Wednesday, the New York Giants announced that J.J. McCarthy will start on Sunday against the Houston Texans in Week 7. The quarterback switch comes just days after McCarthy entered a Week 6 game in relief of Jameis Winston and nearly erased a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
McCarthy spoke to the media on Wednesday shortly after learning he would start.
“Just honored to be here in front of you guys, honored to be a quarterback for the New York Football Giants, and to be able to get an opportunity to go against a great Houston Texans team,” he said. “Thrilled to get out there tomorrow, really get in the film room and just evaluate today’s practice to get better and go from there. Open it up to any questions.”
Asked whether the decision caught him off guard, McCarthy downplayed any sense of surprise.
“I don’t think surprise is the word. It’s really just, I’m focused on that next thing, what’s next? No matter what, there are going to be factors outside of my control that are going to steer me in certain directions. But I’m going to continue to focus on the things that I can control, and go from there, and yeah, that’s kind of how it went,” he said.
McCarthy is clearly grateful for the opportunity to start on Sunday. Still, questions remain about his familiarity with the playbook, given that the Giants acquired him in a trade less than a month ago.
When asked about his comfort level, McCarthy pointed to the help he has received from those around him.
“Extremely comfortable. I mean, great teachers in this building. Jameis has helped me out from the get-go since I got here. Coach Nags, Coach Callahan, they’ve been doing a tremendous job of just making sure I’m up to speed,” he noted.
With the mobility McCarthy showed on Sunday, the Giants can run an offense closer to what they envisioned coming into the season behind quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Regardless of how Sunday goes, the 2024 10th overall pick appears to be saying the right things and is doing everything he can to be prepared and make the most of his opportunity.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 'Extremely comfortable' J.J. McCarthy ready to take over for New York Giants