J.J. McCarthy got a taste of NFL action last Sunday, playing a handful of snaps for the Giants in their tie with the Commanders, and it sounds like the team is dead set on finding more ways to get him on the field. Even with just five snaps, where he had two carries for two yards and two plays wiped out by penalties, McCarthy’s brief appearance has everyone talking. Why? Because the guy brings a running threat, a “wrinkle” that their starting quarterback, Jameis Winston, just doesn’t offer.
The “Change of Pace” McCarthy Brings
Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh isn’t messing around about this. He’s on record saying the team would be “negligent if we didn’t try to do that,” meaning neglecting to use every active player. He sees the benefits of McCarthy’s presence as a definite “change of pace” on offense. Harbaugh even insisted that what we saw Sunday “is probably not all we have for him right now.” Talk about teasing a fan base, right? It shows they’re cooking up more.
Harbaugh’s “Negligent” Warning to Himself
Look, McCarthy has only been with the Giants for a couple of weeks, so the playbook for him is probably a “limited menu” right now. But Harbaugh’s message is crystal clear: “We’re always going to be searching for opportunities to use our players, give them an opportunity to help us win games.” It’s a statement that shows the team is committed to exploiting every single tool in their arsenal, and McCarthy, despite his minimal impact so far, is clearly seen as a potential difference-maker.
So what’s next for the Giants? Harbaugh made it undeniably clear they’ll keep “searching for opportunities to use our players.” Giants fans should absolutely be looking forward to how this new running “wrinkle” develops. Even with a “limited menu” of plays right now, the commitment from the coaching staff to find ways for McCarthy to help them win games is undeniable. Expect more snaps, more attempts to catch defenses off guard, and maybe, just maybe, a bigger impact from that dynamic change of pace.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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