Report: J.J. McCarthy could be poised to take over as Giants’ QB2 this week

The New York Giants’ quarterback depth chart may be in flux again. According to Pro Football Rumors, head coach John Harbaugh said Monday, via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, that a change in J.J. McCarthy’s role could happen as soon as this week. The reported idea is simple: move McCarthy into the team’s No. 2 quarterback spot, potentially putting him closer to game-day responsibilities than he has been up to this point.

The context in the report centers on McCarthy’s current status on the sideline. He would be backing up Jameis Winston during the Giants’ game on Sunday against the Washington Commanders, and Harbaugh’s comments suggest that the coaching staff is not treating McCarthy as a long-term placeholder. Instead, they are considering a near-term shift that would clarify who the Giants turn to if Winston can’t go and would also influence how the offense plans its week’s practice reps.

For the Giants, QB2 is more than a depth-chart label. The No. 2 quarterback usually becomes the first option for scout-team look, situational packages, and emergency preparation. If McCarthy is elevated, the decision could also change who gets the more meaningful two-minute, red-zone, and protection-focused reps that quarterbacks receive when coaches want their backup ready to operate quickly in real-game conditions.

McCarthy arrived in New York at the end of September, the report notes, and he is 23 years old. The timeline matters because quarterback development in-season often depends on how quickly a player earns trust from staff and teammates, particularly in a play-calling system where protections, cadence, and decision-making are tightly managed. A step up to QB2, even without a guaranteed start, implies that the coaching staff believes he is prepared to function at a higher level of responsibility.

This is also a roster-management question. Winston remains the starter, and the Giants’ approach to their top two quarterbacks will shape the way they balance risk and readiness during preparation. With the Commanders on deck, the Giants have a chance to use the week as a proving ground for how McCarthy fits into the team’s immediate operational needs, not just long-term development plans.

Still, the report should be treated as a decision that is possible, not certain. Pro Football Rumors framed Harbaugh’s comments as “definitely on the table,” which suggests openness to the move, but a final depth-chart change depends on how practice unfolds and how the staff evaluates McCarthy’s readiness relative to the team’s expectations for Sunday.

The main thing to watch next is whether New York’s official game-week depth chart reflects a QB2 promotion for McCarthy before kickoff. If it does, it would report the staff is accelerating his role, tightening the gap between the starter and backup, and potentially preparing for a wider range of game-state scenarios against Washington. If it doesn’t, the decision likely waits for a later week, even after Harbaugh’s stated willingness to consider it.