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Giants Make Final Decision on J.J. McCarthy Starting vs. Texans

The New York Giants are officially making a change at quarterback, benching veteran Jameis Winston in favor of J.J. McCarthy, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Source: The Giants plan to start J.J. McCarthy on Sunday vs. Houston. pic.twitter.com/HzpVzf88Oj — Jeremy Fowler…

By Charlie Baduini · Heavy

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 4:11 PM

Key Things to Know

The New York Giants have benched Jameis Winston and named J.J. McCarthy the starting quarterback against the Houston Texans.
McCarthy threw for 243 yards and a touchdown in fourth-quarter relief against the New Orleans Saints.
Winston had compiled 957 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions through five games for New York.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The New York Giants have officially named J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback for their upcoming matchup against the Houston Texans, benching veteran Jameis Winston. The decision follows McCarthy's impressive relief appearance against the New Orleans Saints, where he led three scoring drives and totaled 243 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and 26 rushing yards.

Winston moves to the bench after throwing two interceptions against New Orleans, finishing his five-game starting stint with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. The start marks McCarthy's first for New York since being acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.

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Giants Make Final Decision on J.J. McCarthy Starting vs. Texans

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