J.J. McCarthy’s first taste of action with the Giants was tiny, unusual, and maybe just the beginning.
On Sunday in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders, the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback made his on-field debut for New York with a little less than 10 minutes left in the first quarter. His first snap with the Giants came on 1st-and-10 from the Washington 45-yard line, and McCarthy took the snap before quickly pitching the ball to Giants receiver Darnell Mooney. The play ended with a 15-yard facemask penalty after Mooney was tackled five yards behind the line of scrimmage.
That was the start and, for the moment, the shape of McCarthy’s role: in, then out.
He went back to the sideline after that single play and watched Jameis Winston return to quarterback duties. By the time the game was over, McCarthy had logged five snaps total. He ran the ball twice for two yards, and his only pass attempt was wiped out by a Giants penalty.
The Giants were clearly looking for ways to tap into more than just his arm. Both of McCarthy’s rushing plays came on RPOs, with the quarterback choosing to keep the ball and run. His lone throw was a quick pass left to Malik Nabers behind the line of scrimmage that turned into more than 10 yards before the penalty erased it.
Small sample, yes. But the message was hard to miss: New York wanted to see whether McCarthy’s athleticism and throwing velocity could give the offense something different.
And according to Giants head coach John Harbaugh, that might not have been a one-off.
Speaking with the local New York media on Wednesday, Harbaugh suggested McCarthy could have a bigger role than the five snaps he handled in Week 5.
"What you saw is probably not all we have for him right now. Whether or not he’s out there or not will be determined based on whatever happens. But we’ll see if it’s something that can help us."
Vikings fans already know McCarthy can be dangerous as a runner. Last season with Minnesota, he totaled 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries.
The problem has been staying on the field. Some of the decisions he made on those scrambles put him in danger and eventually led to multiple injuries last year.
If he can stay healthy, the Giants may have something interesting on their hands - the kind of hybrid weapon that can show up in spots and change the shape of an offense. But that’s a major if, considering McCarthy missed 24 games during his short time in Minnesota, plus the Vikings’ final preseason game this summer because of an injured ankle.
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