The New York Giants have decided to make a quarterback change, and veteran Jameis Winston is losing his starting job.
Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that J.J. McCarthy will start Sunday against the Houston Texans, ending Winston’s four-game run as the starter after he filled in for injured quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Winston was benched during Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints after completing 14 of 26 passes for 152 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
McCarthy replaced him with New York trailing 34-10 in the fourth quarter and nearly led a comeback.
“We have an announcement about the quarterback situation,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “We will be starting J.J. in the game. Jameis will be the backup. Jake (Haener) will be the emergency quarterback.”
McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception while leading three scoring drives last Sunday. The Giants reached the New Orleans 14-yard line on their final possession before failing on fourth down.
Harbaugh declined to name a starter immediately after the loss to the Saints.
“I have no problem with Jameis whatsoever. I love the way he competes, I love the way he fights — all those kinds of things,” Harbaugh said Sunday. “His play was up and down today, for sure, but those things will all be decided not 10 minutes after a game.”
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Winston has thrown for 957 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions this season while completing 57.0% of his passes. The Giants went 2-1-1 in his four starts after Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury and Winston took over.
The Giants traded for McCarthy earlier this season, acquiring him from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick. He hasn’t started a game yet for New York.
The Giants enter Week 7 at 3-2-1 and atop the NFC East and will visit Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
