New York Giants coach John Harbaugh said the team could give J.J. McCarthy a larger role in its offense after the young player appeared for five snaps in the Giants’ 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Harbaugh characterized McCarthy’s use as a possible change of pace and said the five-snap appearance did not necessarily show the full extent of what the team might do with him. He added that whether McCarthy plays would depend on how circumstances develop, and that the Giants would assess whether his involvement could help the team.
Harbaugh also said New York intends to look for ways to use the players on its roster. He described exploring those opportunities as part of trying to improve and help the team win, while stopping short of promising a specific number of snaps or a fixed offensive assignment for McCarthy.
One of McCarthy’s plays against Washington was a screen pass to Malik Nabers, but a penalty erased the play. The source reports that three of McCarthy’s snaps involved using the possibility of a run to try to influence the defense and support New York’s ground game.
The Giants’ rushing attack had been productive in their Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys with Jaxson Dart in the lineup, but the source says it weakened after Dart was injured. Jameis Winston has since taken over as starting quarterback. In four appearances, including three starts, Winston has completed 57.6% of his passes for 805 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. New York is 2-0-1 during that stretch, according to the source, which also says Winston has appeared more comfortable in the offense over time.
The Giants are scheduled to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The source describes the Saints as one of Winston’s former teams and says McCarthy is likely to take some snaps in the game, but Harbaugh did not specify whether that would happen or how extensive McCarthy’s role might be. His comments indicate the Giants are considering ways to use McCarthy, rather than confirming a defined change to the offense.
