The NFL has fully embraced a full slate of Thursday night games, justifying the health-and-safety realities by pointing to in-game injury rates when a team has a full week to rest and when it has a four-day turnaround.
That selective statistical focus overlooks the basic reality that some players injured on one Sunday would be ready by the next Sunday, but won’t be ready by Thursday.
For Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the three extra days to recover from the hip pointer he suffered on Sunday would be useful. As it stands, the clock is ticking toward Thursday night’s game against the Commanders.
Coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Monday that McCarthy is “doing well,” and that it “does look like he’s going to play” on Thursday night.
Even if he’s not playing, there’s strategic value in keeping the Commanders in the dark about whether it will be McCarthy or Jameis Winston. Either way, it would be wise for Washington to be ready for both guys, since McCarthy could aggravate the injury or suffer a new one.
That’s the reality of rolling with McCarthy. His fearlessness means he’ll take hits. The more hits he takes, the more likely it is that he’ll be hurt.
Winston did well during the brief time McCarthy went to the locker room, presumably for a quick visit with Dr. Needle. Winston completed six passes for 71 yards and a touchdown — half of the total passes McCarthy completed in the rest of the game.
In the end, the Giants got another win. They’re 5-2-1. And they’re taking control of the NFC East, especially with the Eagles at 2-7, the Commanders at 2-5-1, and the Cowboys at 4-5.
McCarthy has a higher floor than Winston. Winston, when things are clicking, could have a higher ceiling. And he seems to be better when he enters a game cold, giving the Giants the best of both worlds as they try to turn a season that seemed lost seven weeks ago tonight into something special.