New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has turned to J.J. McCarthy as the franchise's starting quarterback with Jaxson Dart out for the season.

On Sunday, the Giants fell 34-27 to the New Orleans Saints, prompting Harbaugh to make a change at running back. Jameis Winston started the game and struggled immensely, throwing two interceptions as the Saints opened up a 24-point lead.

McCarthy was brought in in the fourth quarter, and while he threw a pick with his first pass since being traded to the Giants, the former first-round pick rallied. He threw for 243 yards - the most passing yards in an 11-minute span in NFL history and the most by a Giants quarterback with at least 10 completions since Phil Simms in 1989.

McCarthy's 14.9 air yards per attempt and 17.2 air yards per completion were the most by a QB with at least 20 dropbacks in a game this season. As a result of his impressive showing even in defeat, the Giants will turn to McCarthy to start in Week 7 when the franchise takes on the Houston Texans.

On Monday, Harbaugh had claimed the Giants were "working through" the starting quarterback conundrum when asked if Winston will make another start following the loss to the Saints. Harbaugh insisted the Giants were determining "what gives us the best chance to win the football game at this given time," and "move the ball, score points, protect the football, etc."

"Whatever it is that furthers us and helps us," Harbaugh said, "that's what we want to do."

Harbaugh refused to name a starter on Monday, praising Winston's effort while outlining McCarthy's chances. He said: "Jameis has done a great job in so many ways. I just admire and respect him for it. He's helped us win games and did what he had to do to win games, and that's something you value very much.

"J.J. just got here a couple weeks ago, and where do we stand? We're trying to put an offense together that he's got a feel for and those kind of things. All those things are things you factor in."

Through the offseason, training camp, and preseason, the Giants rode a wave of optimism all the way through Week 1 of the 2026 campaign. However, in Week 2, disaster struck.

Playing under the SoFi Stadium lights against the Los Angeles Rams, Dart went down on the opening drive. Sandwiched between linebacker Byron Young and pass rusher Josaiah Stewart, the 23-year-old’s leg bent awkwardly and he collapsed to the turf in pain, which forced ESPN to halt its coverage.

Dart spent considerable time in the blue medical tent, and even tried to convince the medical staff to put him back in only to be turned down. He was later forced to undergo season-ending surgery, ending his 2026 campaign.

The Giants then traded for McCarthy, who will get the chance to start against the 2-4 Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 25.