J.J. McCarthy will be the Giants' starting quarterback for Week 7 in Houston, coach John Harbaugh announced following Wednesday's practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
Jameis Winston will be the backup, and Jake Haener will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
The Giants (3-2-1) look to expand their lead in the NFC East in Sunday's matchup with the Texans (2-4), who have won back-to-back games after starting the season with four consecutive losses. Both teams will enter their bye following the game.
View photos of the Giants on the practice field as they prepare for their Week 7 matchup against the Texans.
WR Malik Nabers (1)
OLB Abdul Carter (3)
TE Isaiah Likely (9)
LB Arvell Reese (52)
QB J.J. McCarthy (18)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
LB Trace Ford (48)
OL Francis "SiSi" Mauigoa (65)
S Ar'Darius Washington (24)
WR Malachi Fields (88)
WR Malik Nabers (1), TE Isaiah Likely (9)
QB J.J. McCarthy (18)
DB Elijah Campbell (28)
TE Isaiah Likely (9)
LB Arvell Reese (52)
OLB Abdul Carter (3)
WR Jalin Hyatt (81)
S Ar'Darius Washington (24)
OLB Abdul Carter (3)
WR Darnell Mooney (17)
QB J.J. McCarthy (18)
QB J.J. McCarthy (18)
CB Jaden Robinson (33)
WR Malachi Fields (88)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB J.J. McCarthy (18)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Darnell Mooney (17)
TE Isaiah Likely (9)
QB J.J. McCarthy (18)
Harbaugh had a decision to make following last week's 34-27 loss to New Orleans, a game in which the Giants jumped out to a double-digit lead but proceeded to allow 34 unanswered points.
Trailing by 24 points at the time, McCarthy replaced Winston with 11:25 left in the game and threw an interception on his first drive. McCarthy, a former top-10 draft pick acquired in a trade with the Vikings just 20 days earlier, then strung together three scoring drives as the Giants countered with 17 unanswered points in a five-minute span.
They ultimately came up one play short on fourth down from the Saints 14, but McCarthy finished 11 of 21 for 243 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The quarterback also led the Giants in rushing yards, including a 28-yard scramble to open the final possession.
Winston had completed 14 of 26 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown with two second-half interceptions, which New Orleans turned into 10 points.
Sunday marked the only time the Giants had two players throw for at least 150 yards in the same game since 1950.
McCarthy's 243 passing yards tied for the most by a Giant in a single quarter since at least 1991. Eli Manning also had 243 yards in the fourth quarter of a 2012 game against Tampa Bay.
Winston had started all four games since Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, compiling a 2-1-1 record. In their Week 5 tie with Washington, Winston became the only Giant since 1950 to record at least 300 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 25 rushing yards in the same game.
The Giants acquired McCarthy from the Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft choice. The 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy spent his rookie season on injured reserve and returned to start 10 games for Minnesota in 2025. He completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He also added 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries.
"I talked to (Jaxson) today, just normal conversation," McCarthy said. "We're both just rooting for each other. And like I told him, I'm doing the same thing that you want, is help win the football games for this organization and do everything we can and be the best versions of ourselves every day to help the collective. It's been great conversation. I love Jaxson. We've worked with the same QB coach out in California for a long time so we have a prior relationship."
McCarthy, voted a team captain in 2025, became the first Vikings quarterback to make his NFL debut and start in a season opener in team history. He then became the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing) in the fourth quarter of his debut, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
McCarthy has won his last four starts, most recently a 16-3 victory over the Packers in the 2025 regular-season finale.
McCarthy served as Minnesota's No. 3 quarterback this season behind starter Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz.
McCarthy is 6-4 as a starter. Sunday will be his first game against the Texans, but it will not be his first time in Reliant Stadium. Then called NRG Stadium, it was the site of Michigan's 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Washington.
"It is really special, it's awesome," McCarthy said. "But each game, each rep is an independent event. And going in there and just focusing on that first play and executing those six seconds within that play, that's really the main focus. But it's going to be really cool to be in Houston and I think we're staying in the same hotel that we stayed in when we were there in 2024. Just really excited to go play with these boys this weekend."
Prior to the NFL, McCarthy was 27-1 as a starter for the Wolverines and played under Jim Harbaugh, brother of John Harbaugh.
"I can say this, both are made of faith, family, and football, and nothing else," McCarthy said. "They absolutely love coming in every day and just getting better personally, so they can affect their collective groups. I'm just so blessed to be a part of a family that is led by a Harbaugh. I'm just extremely grateful for Coach Harbaugh and just everything he's done for me and my family. I can't wait to go do it for him every single day."
On Sunday, McCarthy and the Giants will face former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was just named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2026 cycle.
CB Paulson Adebo - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (October 21)
OL Josh Sills - Free Agent Signing from IND Practice Squad (October 21)
OLB Trace Ford - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 20)
RB Najee Harris - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (October 20)
OLB Jihad Ward - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (October 20)
WR Jason Brownlee - Practice Squad (October 20)
OLB Trace Ford - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 17)
OL Josh Gesky - Practice Squad (October 14)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 14)
LB Malik Harrison - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 13)
OLB Dawuane Smoot - Practice Squad Veteran (October 13)
WR Dalen Cambre - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 10)
OLB Trace Ford - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 10)
DL Chauncey Golston - Reserve/Injured (October 10)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (October 7)
WR Braxton Berrios - Reserve/Injured (October 7)
WR Dontae Fleming - Practice Squad (October 7)
QB Jake Haener - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 3)
OLB Trace Ford - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 3)
OL Kendrick Green - Practice Squad Veteran (October 2)
OL Darian Kinnard - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 2)
OLB Jihad Ward - Free Agent Signing from MIN Practice Squad (October 1)
DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 30)
QB Jake Haener - Practice Squad Exception (September 30)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 29)
WR Charlie Jones - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 29)
OLB Brian Burns - Reserve/Injured (September 29)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 29)
DL PJ Mustipher - Practice Squad Exception (September 29)
QB J.J. McCarthy - Acquired (from MIN) for 2027 Fifth Round Pick (September 28)
QB Jake Haener - Waived, No Recall (September 28)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 26)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
QB Jaxson Dart - Reserve/Injured (September 24)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Practice Squad Exception (September 22)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (September 22)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
DB Elijah Jones - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
CB Nikko Reed - Free Agent Signing (from LAC PS) (September 18)
CB Paulson Adebo - Reserve/Injured (September 18)
CB Jaden Robinson - Practice Squad (September 17)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 17)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 16)
WR Dalen Cambre - Practice Squad (September 16)
RB Phil Mafah - Practice Squad (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Waived, No Recall (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (September 12)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
WR Darius Slayton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
G Jon Runyan Jr. - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
QB Jameis Winston - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
LB Malik Harrison - Practice Squad Veteran (September 3)
DL Ben Barten - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 3)
OL Geno VanDeMark - Practice Squad (September 2)
DB JT Woods - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Practice Squad (September 1)
WR Charlie Jones - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
OL Darian Kinnard - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
DB Elijah Jones - Practice Squad Exception (September 1)
DL Ben Barten, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, DB Raheem Layne, LB Chandler Martin, OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (August 31)
WR Braxton Berrios, WR Jalin Hyatt, DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (August 31)
QB Jake Haener, DB J.T. Woods - Practice Squad Exception (August 31)
OL Jarrod Gray - International Practice Player Signing (August 31)
CB Korie Black - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 30)
CB Art Green, K Ben Sauls - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 30)
DL Anquin Barnes Jr., DL Ben Barten, S Beau Brade, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Eric Gray, OL Jarrod Gray, QB Jake Haener, WR Jalin Hyatt, OL Jake Kubas, LB Chandler Martin, LB Darius Muasau, OLB Caleb Murphy, DL Zacch Pickens, OL Ryan Schernecke, S J.T. Woods - Waived, No Recall (August 30)
QB Brandon Allen, WR Braxton Berrios, TE Tanner Conner, DL Marlon Davidson, OLB Khalid Kareem, S Raheem Layne, OL Evan Neal, OL Lucas Patrick, DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 30)
RB Damon Bankston, LB Anfernee Orji, WR Kobe Prentice - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
CB Ugo Amadi, TE Josiah Deguara, DL Leki Fotu, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OL Brenden Jaimes - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Calvin Austin III - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Traded (to KC) for 2028 Seventh Round Pick (August 26)
TE Josiah Deguara - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Kobe Prentice - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Ryan Miller - Waived, No Recall (August 24)
DL Ben Barten - Claimed (off waivers from NYJ) (August 19)
OL Daniel Faalele - Traded (to JAX) for 2027 Sixth Round Pick (August 18)
RB Najee Harris - Free Agent Signing (August 18)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 18)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
LB Chandler Martin - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
RB Dante Miller - Waived/Injured (August 17)
DB Sam Webb - Reserve/Retired (August 16)
DB Ugo Amadi - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
DB Sam Webb - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
CB David Long Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 13)
CB DJ James - Waived/Injured (August 13)
S JT Woods - Free Agent Signing (August 10)
DL Sam Roberts - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 10)
OL Brenden Jaimes - Free Agent Signing (August 8)
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - Waived/Injured (August 7)
FB Grant Finley - Free Agent Signing (August 6)
TE Tyler Moore - Waived, No Recall (August 6)
DB David Long Jr. - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DB D.J. James - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DL Roy Robertson-Harris - Reserve/Injured (August 5)
WR Beaux Collins - Waived/Injured (August 5)
LB Anfernee Orji - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
DL Ben Barten - Waived, No Recall (July 30)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Sam Roberts - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Marlon Davidson - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
TE Tyler Moore - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Waived, Non-Football Injury (July 25)
LB Cam Jones - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Claimed (off waivers from TEN) (July 7)
CB Rico Payton - Waived/Injured (July 7)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Free Agent Signing (June 2)
K Jason Sanders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 2)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
OL Jarrod Gray - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (June 1)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (June 1)
LS Zach Triner - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 1)
LB Arvell Reese - Selection List Signing (May 29)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selection List Signing (May 27)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing (May 27)
T Reid Holskey - Waived, No Recall (May 27)
OLB Khalid Kareem - Free Agent Signing (May 14)
CB Thaddeus Dixon - Reserve/Injured (May 14)
CB Colton Hood - Selection List Signing (May 12)
RB Damon Bankston - Free Agent Signing (May 8)
WR Malachi Fields - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
OL J.C. Davis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
LB Jack Kelly - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DT Anquin Barnes, DL Ben Barten, CB Thaddeus Dixon, LS Ben Mann, OL Ryan Schernecke, K Dominic Zvada - Free Agent Signing (May 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Elijah Chatman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
WR Courtney Jackson - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Marlon Tuipulotu - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 7)
DL DJ Reader - Free Agent Signing (May 6)
DL Zacch Pickens - Claimed off Waivers from KC (May 5)
DL Leki Fotu - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
DL Shelby Harris - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 25)
LB Jack Kelly - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 193 overall) (April 25)
OL J.C. Davis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 192 overall) (April 25)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 186 overall) (April 25)
WR Malachi Fields - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 74 overall) (April 24)
CB Colton Hood - Selected in the 2nd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 37 overall) (April 24)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 10 overall) (April 23)
LB Arvell Reese - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 5 overall) (April 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Traded (to CIN) for 2026 First Round Pick (No. 10 overall) (April 19)
QB Brandon Allen - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 13)
OL Daniel Faalele - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
WR Ryan Miller - Exclusive Rights Signing (April 7)
OL Lucas Patrick - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 6)
WR Da'Quan Felton, DB Patrick McMorris, DB T.J. Moore, DB Myles Purchase - Waived, No Recall (April 6)
K Graham Gano - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 30)
LB Cam Jones - Free Agent Signing (March 25)
LS Zach Triner - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
DL Sam Roberts - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
DB Elijah Campbell - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 20)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
WR Darnell Mooney - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
S Jason Pinnock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Calvin Austin III - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Zaire Barnes - Free Agent Signing (March 14)
P Jordan Stout - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
CB Greg Newsome II - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
S Ar'Darius Washington - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
CB Art Green - Re-signed (March 12)
TE Isaiah Likely - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
FB Patrick Ricard - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
LB Tremaine Edmunds - Free Agent Signing (March 12)
T Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
K Jason Sanders - Free Agent Signing (March 11)
Chris Board - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
P Jamie Gillan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
OL Evan Neal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
LB Micah McFadden - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
OLB Caleb Murphy - Re-signed (March 10)
S Anthony Johnson - Waived, No Recall (March 10)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Re-signed (March 6)
T James Hudson III - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 6)
LB Bobby Okereke - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
WR Courtney Jackson - Free Agent Signing (February 13)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Reserve/Future (January 22)
DT Marlon Tuipulotu - Reserve/Future (January 13)
G Jake Kubas - Reserve/Future (January 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Reserve/Future (January 5)
TE Tanner Conner - Reserve/Future (January 5)
OLB Trace Ford - Reserve/Future (January 5)
T Reid Holskey - Reserve/Future (January 5)
S Patrick McMorris - Reserve/Future (January 5)
CB Myles Purchase - Reserve/Future (January 5)
The Giants Foundation 5K & Kids Run
Bring your friends, family and neighbors out to run The Giants Foundation 5K Presented by Quest® on Sunday, November 8th and finish in the end zone at MetLife Stadium!
