Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-21**Lead**
The New York Giants have benched quarterback Jameis Winston and will start rookie JJ McCarthy in their upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to multiple league sources. The decision comes only three weeks after the Giants completed a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The abrupt change underscores the front office's growing impatience with inconsistent play and a desire to accelerate the team’s long-term rebuild.
**Contexto**
Winston, who signed a one-year deal with the Giants in March 2025, started the season as the clear QB1. Through the first six games, he threw for 1,542 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions, with a passer rating of 82.3. While not disastrous, his turnover-prone style has frustrated head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. The Giants currently sit at 2–4, tied for last in the NFC East, and the organization believes a spark is needed.
McCarthy, 22, was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. He spent his rookie season largely on the bench behind veteran Sam Darnold, appearing in only four games before suffering a minor knee injury. The Giants traded a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder to acquire him on September 30, 2026. At the time, Schoen described McCarthy as “a quarterback with elite arm talent and a high football IQ” in a press conference. McCarthy has spent the past three weeks learning the playbook and building chemistry with wide receivers Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson.
The benching of Winston is not a complete surprise. Sources close to the team say Daboll had been evaluating both quarterbacks in practice since the trade. Winston was told of the decision on Monday morning, and he reportedly took the news professionally, though he expressed disappointment. The Giants are expected to explore trading Winston before the November 3 deadline, but his salary ($8 million this season) may complicate a deal.
**Analise**
Why does this move matter? For the Giants, it is a clear pivot from short-term competitiveness to long-term development. Winston, 31, was signed to provide stability after Daniel Jones’ departure, but his performance has been too volatile for a team trying to build a sustainable winner. Starting McCarthy now allows the coaching staff to evaluate whether he can be the franchise answer, with a full offseason and draft capital still available. If McCarthy struggles, the Giants will likely finish with a high draft pick in 2027, giving them another shot at a top QB prospect. If he succeeds, they save years of searching.
From a league-wide perspective, the Giants’ aggressive move reinforces a trend of teams prioritizing young, cheap quarterback contracts over veteran stopgaps. McCarthy’s rookie deal runs through 2027 with a fifth-year option, giving the Giants cap flexibility for other positions. Meanwhile, Winston’s departure would create roughly $5 million in cap relief, which could be used to extend edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux or shore up the offensive line.
However, the timing carries risk. McCarthy has not started a regular-season game since his college days at Michigan in 2023. Throwing him into a hostile road environment against the Eagles’s top-10 defense could backfire, damaging his confidence and exposing him to injury. The Giants’ offensive line has allowed 18 sacks this season, sixth-most in the league. The team must also ensure that the locker room remains united after benching a popular veteran like Winston.
**Fontes**
The information in this article is based on reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and team sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. Additional details were drawn from the New York Giants’ official transactions listing and the NFL’s weekly press conference transcripts. No interviews were conducted by FORTIS NEWS directly.