The Giants just pulled off a trade for J.J. McCarthy, and let’s be real, it’s not a move everyone’s agreed with. But hold up, because Super Bowl champ and former Giants quarterback Russell Wilson, alongside Pro Bowler Kyle Long, just broke down on CBS Sports’ “Set Hut” why this actually could be a “great” situation for McCarthy to hit the reset button on his career.
The Giants Needed a Guy, and Wilson Sees the Fit
The whole reason this trade even happened is that Giants starting quarterback Jaxson Dart is out for the season with a knee injury that needed surgery. It’s a tough break, and the Giants needed to beef up that QB room fast. Wilson called the trade “interesting” but also quickly said it could be “great” for McCarthy’s career restart. The plan is clear: McCarthy gets to learn under starter Jameis Winston. If you recall, Wilson and Winston were even teammates on the 2025 Giants. Kyle Long made it super clear, though: the message to McCarthy needs to be that Winston is the starter for now, and when “the guy with the diamonds,” that’s Dart, comes back, he’ll be the starter. Wilson is even betting on Winston to share some solid advice and thoughts with McCarthy. Wilson also gave a shout-out, saying he “likes it for coach (John) Harbaugh, too,” because now he’s got “a guy that he knows is a competitor, a high draft pick as a backup just in case.”
McCarthy’s Wild Ride: Injuries, Stats, and a Seattle Connection
McCarthy’s journey in the NFL has been a rollercoaster, no doubt. His rookie season basically ended before it even began, thanks to a season-ending knee injury suffered *before* the regular season. Then, in 2025, after Sam Darnold went to our very own Seattle Seahawks, McCarthy was named the starter in Minnesota. But man, the injury bug bit hard. In Week 2 of 2025, he suffered a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for five games. Later that same season, a concussion and a hand injury caused even more missed time. He managed to play in 10 games that year, going 6-4 with a 57.6% completion rate, 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. By 2026, he lost the starting job to Kyler Murray and didn’t play a snap. So yeah, injuries are what bring McCarthy to New York, exactly when the Giants needed someone after Dart’s season-ending surgery. Long put it perfectly: “Look, they need him, and he needs them, so I think it’s a good situation for him.”
This is a huge moment for McCarthy to soak up everything he can from Winston and finally get his career back on track. For the Giants, it’s all about holding down the fort until Dart can return. This move could totally redefine McCarthy’s future, and honestly, the Giants don’t have much to lose right now. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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