J.J. McCarthy is ready to embrace his opportunity as the Giants’ starting quarterback — and prove he can thrive in the NFL.
The Vikings don’t believe he can. That’s why they traded him late last month to the Giants for a fifth-round draft pick, after demoting him to the third string, just one season after he made 10 lackluster starts.
That is his only NFL starting experience. But he was the 10th overall draft pick in 2024 for a reason.
Bottom line: He has some potential. Can he turn it into results?
That’s the big question for first-year coach John Harbaugh’s Giants, who are trying to seize their opportunity to win the flawed NFC East, even with Jaxson Dart sidelined for the season.
“I feel like just being around a new group of guys, new system, new coaching staff, just a new culture, everything about this place feels very fitting for me,” said McCarthy, who surely is not the Giants’ long-term quarterback solution.
Does McCarthy believe he is more ready to start now than he was last year with the Vikings?
“Yes, I believe just experience does wonders,” he said. “Being able to be in that same situation where you might have made a mistake the last time, this time you’re just going to react better and make a more well-rounded response.”
McCarthy’s first start — Sunday in Houston against a daunting defense — will be a big-time test for him.
The Texans were supposed to be a legit contender this season — and still could be, despite an 0-4 start. They have won two straight games, including last week’s gritty victory over the Jaguars in London.
Their defense is 10th in Pro Football Focus’ ratings, including fourth against the run and seventh in pass rush — though just 25th in coverage.
The Giants’ offensive line will have its hands full with dominant edge rusher Will Anderson, who leads the NFL with 7.5 sacks through six games — and has 37.5 in his 52 career games.
Last season, when he had 12 sacks (following up on 11 in 2024), Anderson was a first-team All-Pro selection and finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting. He is a huge problem for McCarthy.
The Texans obviously are not going to sit back and play shoddy prevent defense, like the Saints did late in Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium.
McCarthy played most of the fourth quarter for Winston, led a furious 17-point comeback and came up just short in a 34-27 defeat. But the Giants’ coaches know that’s not translatable to a full game.
MORE GIANTS COVERAGE
Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.