Following Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, the New York Giants faced challenges in their quarterback room. As a temporary solution, they elevated Jake Haener from the practice squad to serve as Jameis Winston's backup for their Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. This decision came even after the franchise traded a 2027 fifth-round pick to acquire former top-10 selection J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings, who was spending his first week learning the playbook.

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While Haener took on the clipboard duties for Sunday's game, the timeline for McCarthy's integration is rapidly accelerating. A report shared on X by Jordan Raanan highlighted remarks from head coach John Harbaugh about the potential for McCarthy to move up the depth chart. Harbaugh noted that it is possible for McCarthy to become the backup as soon as next Sunday against Washington and confirmed that this promotion is realistic and “on the table.”

This swift progression brings hope for McCarthy, whose time in Minnesota was marred by injuries and inconsistency. Speaking to FOX Sports, an anonymous NFL quarterback evaluator pointed out that moving to a new environment with coaches connected to Jim Harbaugh, who previously mentored McCarthy at Michigan, provides him with an ideal opportunity to reset, rebuild his confidence, and revive his career under renewed expectations in New York.