Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy continued his impressive start in New York by leading the Giants to a 27-21 overtime win over the Houston Texans in Week 7. McCarthy, who was traded from Minnesota last month, completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards on the road.

Following McCarthy’s performance in Houston, Giants analyst Dan Duggan addressed the growing conversation surrounding the former Vikings quarterback and injured Giants starter Jaxson Dart.

Dan Duggan Addresses J.J. McCarthy-Jaxson Dart Quarterback Debate

During this week’s episode of the “NYG411” podcast, Duggan argued that the Giants do not need to make any immediate decisions about choosing between Dart and McCarthy.

“I think we ought to address the elephant that’s trying to squeeze in the corner of the room,” Duggan said. “I don’t think we need to have the J.J. McCarthy-Jaxson Dart conversation, but it’s already out there. Let’s just let it play out. We don’t need to overreact. They don’t need to make a decision on the fifth-year option or trading Dart today. The next ten weeks, the playoffs, all that will answer the question.

“And the worst-case scenario is you go into the offseason with two very young, promising quarterbacks and you gotta figure out a way to untangle that and that wouldn’t be easy. But that’s like the worst-case scenario right here. So, I don’t think we need to go too far down that path, but I just know it’s out there, so I want to, at least, address it in that light manner like that.”

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after the Vikings selected him No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Following Sam Darnold’s departure, McCarthy became Minnesota’s starter in 2025 and finished the season with 1,632 passing yards, a 57.6% completion rate, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games. He also added 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

The former Michigan standout lost Minnesota’s starting quarterback competition to veteran Kyler Murray during the 2026 offseason and eventually fell to third on the depth chart after Carson Wentz moved ahead of him.

After Dart suffered significant damage to his left knee, including injuries to his MCL and meniscus, during a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Giants acquired McCarthy from Minnesota in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Dart, meanwhile, had won the Giants’ starting job in Week 4 of his rookie season after New York selected him No. 25 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He replaced Russell Wilson as the team’s QB1 and quickly established himself as a promising part of the Giants’ future.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen recently said Dart remains hopeful that he could return if New York reaches the playoffs. That possibility could eventually force head coach John Harbaugh to make a difficult quarterback decision if McCarthy continues to play well.

The Giants have gone 3-1-1 since Dart’s injury with Jameis Winston and McCarthy under center. Their offense currently has a PFN Offense Impact grade of 70.3, ranking No. 27 in the NFL.