EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants are turning to J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday.
Coach John Harbaugh had to choose between McCarthy and Jameis Winston, who had started the previous four games. Winston had been starting in place of injured starter Jaxson Dart.
The move comes after McCarthy entered the game in the fourth quarter Sunday and threw for 243 yards and led three scoring drives. He provided a spark with his arm and legs and came within 14 yards of potentially completing a miraculous comeback despite trailing by 24 points. It was the second-most passing yards in a fourth quarter by a quarterback who didn't start over the past 25 years. McCarthy led three scoring drives and had the Giants in the red zone before falling short in the final seconds of a 34-27 loss to the Saints.
Harbaugh said Monday that the Giants were "working through" it and "honing in" on a decision about who would start against the Texans.
It was going to be a difficult matchup either way for McCarthy or Winston with Houston having one of the league's best pass rushes. It's third in the league with 18 sacks through five games.
The Giants landed on McCarthy in large part because of his potential. He was the 10th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft out of the University of Michigan.
New York traded a fifth-round pick for McCarthy three weeks ago.
Winston threw for 152 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the Saints. He has seven touchdown passes and five interceptions this season.
The Giants went to McCarthy now despite having a bye after this week's game against Texans.
Winston, 32, signed a two-year, $13 million contract extension before the start of the season to be the team's backup. But he was thrust into action in the first quarter of a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
He had seemingly settled the ship in recent weeks and the Giants (3-2-1) currently sit in first place in a down NFC East. They are hardly in panic mode despite losing 34-27 to the Saints on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in a sloppy performance.
Harbaugh said after the game that how the quarterbacks played would be the most important factor. It was hard to argue with McCarthy's performance, but Winston provides veteran experience and has flashed the past few weeks. He came into Sunday with consecutive games with two touchdown passes.
The Giants running game (or lack thereof) was a factor in the decision because there is a belief that McCarthy's presence in the lineup can help. New York has struggled badly to run the ball in recent weeks despite Harbaugh's desire for the Giants to be a running team. Their running backs had 14 carries for 34 yards Sunday. McCarthy led the Giants in rushing Sunday with 26 yards.
McCarthy allows the Giants to utilize more of the offense they designed for Dart leading into the season. But Dart hurt a knee in Week 2 and forced them to turn to Winston. They catered their offense to Winston's strengths as a result. That meant few zone reads and less of the quarterback on the move. It seems to have negatively affected the Giants' overall run game. McCarthy with his increased mobility and ability to run could provide a boost.
"The elements that we're talking about with some of the read plays and some of the different things you do moving the quarterback around, those are definitely things that are part of the equation," Harbaugh said.
The Giants first practice of the week is Wednesday afternoon.