J.J. McCarthy's time with the Minnesota Vikings is over. His chance to make them second-guess that decision may be coming sooner than expected.
After a long, strange trip, the Vikings have cut their losses and traded McCarthy to the New York Giants. He needed a change of scenery, and the move could offer something a little more satisfying than a fresh start.
The Vikings progressively made it clear they were done with McCarthy, and he needed a change of scenery. Despite general manager Nolan Teasley's denial that it happened at all, it's definitely possible McCarthy asked to be traded when he was demoted to third on the depth chart.
Where things go from here for McCarthy is a great unknown. This isn't the Giants handing McCarthy their future. Jaxson Dart remains their quarterback for the foreseeable future, even after the torn ACL that ended his 2026 season prematurely. But McCarthy doesn't need to become New York's long-term answer for Minnesota's decision to look premature. A productive stretch would be a good place to start.
J.J. McCarthy might not wait long for his chance to prove the Minnesota Vikings wrong
Jameis Winston will start under center for the Giants in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach John Harbaugh quickly confirmed. What happens after that is less certain.
Connor Hughes of SNY looked at the Giants' move to trade for McCarthy after starting the season 2-1. While giving up a fifth-round pick isn't a lot, per se, it also isn't nothing, and Hughes noted the bottom-line expectation from sources he spoke with.
"The expectation, talking to league sources, is that the Giants do not give up a fifth-round pick unless they plan to play McCarthy in the near future."
Hughes went on to take some of the juice out of that "near future" sentiment. He suggested Winston struggling against the Cardinals could lead to a short leash in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders, potentially opening the door for McCarthy to make his Giants debut off the bench.
A first start could take longer. Hughes noted the Giants "likely prefer to get through their Week 8 bye with their heads above water, then reevaluate things." This would then give McCarthy "a month to get situated before the Giants gear up for their brutal final stretch."
Unless Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz were both injured, McCarthy wouldn't have had a chance to play for the Vikings this season. Beyond learning the offense -- or at least enough of it to function -- the only thing standing in the way of his chance to play for the Giants is Winston. Winston doesn't have to be injured for New York to make a change.
For now, McCarthy needs to learn enough of the offense to be ready when the call comes. Getting traded gives him another opportunity. What he does with it will determine whether the Vikings have anything to regret.
Add us as a preferred source on Google