Giants benching Jameis Winston to start J.J. McCarthy at QB in Houston

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Oct 21, 2026

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — John Harbaugh is benching Jameis Winston to start J.J. McCarthy at quarterback in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.

McCarthy confirmed an ESPN report of his imminent first Giants start by posting a photo gallery with the caption “It’s time” on TikTok early Wednesday afternoon. Then McCarthy, 23, took the first snaps at practice ahead of Winston and third-string QB Jake Haener in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Giants (3-2-1) will go on the road to play the Texans (2-4). Then they have a Week 8 bye on Halloween weekend. Harbaugh could have waited until the break to pivot from the veteran to the youngster, but he decided to make the switch now.

The NFC East is there for the taking with the Philadelphia Eagles (2-4), Dallas Cowboys (2-4) and Washington Commanders (1-4-1) all reeling for different reasons. Harbaugh is searching for something more to elevate his team for the challenging back half of their regular-season schedule, which begins with Week 9 and 10 division tilts at the Eagles and at home against Washington.

The Giants are in this predicament because Jaxson Dart is out for the season after tearing the MCL and meniscus in his left knee early in their Week 2 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 21.

Harbaugh responded to Dart’s injury with urgency, acquiring McCarthy in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings only one week later on Sept. 28. The Giants traded a fifth-round pick to the Vikings in exchange for McCarthy, Minnesota’s No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The trade indicated the Giants did not feel fully comfortable with their incumbent backup Winston. They didn’t want to scrap the offensive system they spent all summer installing for Dart’s dual threat skill set.

Winston recovered from a poor showing in relief of Dart against the Rams to lead the Giants to two straight home wins over the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals. He didn’t turn the ball over against the Titans and led the offense to 30 points against the Cardinals.

Then he impressively dragged the Giants back from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit on the road in a Week 5 tie at Washington, including what should have been a game-winning completion to Malik Nabers before Cam Skattebo’s costly fumble.

But the signs of McCarthy taking over soon were there from the first week he joined the team.

Harbaugh made McCarthy active against the Cardinals as a third quarterback. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy gave McCarthy five snaps against the Commanders in a select package of plays.

Then Harbaugh benched Winston in last Sunday’s fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints and handed McCarthy the keys for the final 11 minutes, and McCarthy made the most of his opportunity.

McCarthy entered the game with the Giants trailing, 34-10. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and he was one incompletion away from throwing the game-tying TD pass in the red zone in a 34-27 loss.

McCarthy did throw three different passes that should have been intercepted during an uncommon game situation, so he was a bit fortunate. But he also showed his running ability with a team-high 26 yards on two carries, and the temptation proved too great for Harbaugh to wait any longer.

Winston gets the short end of the stick here. The offense had nothing to do with the key turning point of Sunday’s loss to the Saints.

The Giants led 10-0 late in the first half until Harbaugh’s special teams units allowed a big kick Saints return and then fumbled a kickoff, giving way to 10 Saints points and a tie game at the half.

Then New Orleans’ offense marched right down the field on the opening drive of the third quarter on the Giants’ defense for a 17-10 lead before Winston ever got the ball back.

Winston threw two interceptions on the Giants’ next four drives as the game spiraled until McCarthy replaced Winston, safety Jason Pinnock forced a Saints fumble and the Giants mounted the comeback.

It turns out that earned McCarthy the starting job.