Excitement Around J.J. McCarthy’s Start with the Giants

Adam Thielen, a former teammate of J.J. McCarthy, is enthusiastic about the quarterback’s upcoming opportunity with the Giants.

Thielen believes McCarthy possesses something “incredible” that could really benefit Big Blue. This Sunday, McCarthy will be making his first start for the Giants against the Texans, stepping in for Jameis Winston, who had been starting due to Jaxson Dart’s injury.

Thielen, who played with McCarthy in Minnesota last season, shared on SiriusXM that McCarthy has an impressive deep ball that should enhance the Giants’ offensive dynamics. Yet, he also mentioned that adding a bit more finesse to his game could be beneficial.

“Honestly, I think the best thing he does is the deep ball. He throws the best deep ball that I’ve seen in a long time,” Thielen said. “It is, it is, it is incredible. The big question when he was in Minnesota was — can he throw those touch passes and layered balls, like, you see [49ers quarterback] Brock Purdy throw? There were so many great examples of that in the game on Monday. If J.J. can develop some of that, watch out because he has the other tools already.”

During McCarthy’s first extended action with the Giants in their recent loss to the Saints, he completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 26 yards on two attempts.

Though the Giants ultimately fell short against New Orleans, head coach John Harbaugh praised McCarthy for his efforts under tough circumstances. “He did a heck of a job given the circumstances and kind of desperation time,” Harbaugh stated. “It’s different than normal football, but he made some plays and gave us a chance to win the game. We’re throwing the ball in the end zone at the end so that was good. You have to compliment him on that.”

Thielen also highlighted McCarthy’s character, mentioning that teammates enjoy his presence and his genuine passion for the game. “He’s a gamer. Man, everyone loves him,” Thielen remarked. “Everyone loves being around him. They appreciate his energy and mindset. You can’t, you can’t teach that. If we can develop some of this and put the right offense around him, I think it’s gonna be really fun to watch.”

This weekend, McCarthy, who won a national championship with Michigan in 2023, will face a familiar foe in CJ Stroud, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year from Ohio State. They previously met on the field when McCarthy led his team to victory against Stroud’s Buckeyes during a 2022 game in Columbus. Sunday will mark their first professional matchup against each other.