JJ McCarthy Feels 'Caught Up Completely' on Giants Offense After Bye
Published Nov 5, 2026, 10:17 AM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi
Key points
JJ McCarthy said Wednesday the bye week left him "caught up completely" with the Giants' offense.
John Harbaugh said his quarterback is "pretty much caught up" on anything in the game plan.
The 4-2-1 Giants visit the 2-6 Eagles on Sunday, where they have lost 13 straight.
JJ McCarthy says the Giants' bye week came at exactly the right time. After one start in New York, the quarterback said Wednesday he now feels fully caught up on the offense.
"The bye week came at a great time," McCarthy said, as we shared on X Thursday. "I definitely feel caught up completely with our offense and the intent behind every single play."
He credited "all the guys in the room," the coaches and his teammates. He said the downtime let him "really work on the mental game," per the Giants' transcript.
How the Bye Week Helped JJ McCarthy Catch Up
McCarthy arrived in New Jersey on Sept. 29, leaving his wife and 1-year-old son in the Minneapolis area, the New York Post reported. He made just one start before the break.
In that Oct. 25 debut at Houston, he went 20 of 28 for 252 yards with no turnovers in a 27-21 overtime win, per Yardbarker. We covered the decision to start him that week.
During the bye, McCarthy leaned on offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and senior offensive assistant Greg Roman. He also worked on getting "on the same page" with tight end Isaiah Likely, per Giants.com.
"I absolutely love his playcalling and how he adapts with the flow of the game," McCarthy said of Nagy.
The break also brought his family east. His wife and son officially moved into their New Jersey apartment Wednesday, the Post reported.
What John Harbaugh Said About McCarthy
Harbaugh sees the same thing. He said McCarthy is "pretty much caught up, at least in terms of anything that we'd be doing in the game plan," per Giants.com.
He added that McCarthy will be "as fully prepared as any quarterback would be at this stage."
Harbaugh was not worried about the road crowd, either. "He's been in huge games," he said. "That's not going to be an issue."
Giants coaches had already praised McCarthy's maturity in his first start. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio even called the trade a steal this week.
By the Numbers: JJ McCarthy So Far
Item | Number |
Arrived in New Jersey | Sept. 29 |
Debut vs. Texans | 20 of 28, 252 yards |
Turnovers vs. Texans | 0 |
Result vs. Texans | 27-21 OT win |
Record as Michigan starter | 27-1 |
Giants' skid at the Linc | 13 straight losses |
Sources: New York Post and Yardbarker, as of Nov. 5, 2026.
What Comes Next: Giants at Eagles
The Giants (4-2-1) visit the Eagles (2-6) on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. New York has not won there since 2013, per the Post.
Philadelphia is turning to third-choice quarterback Joe Milton III. DraftKings had the Giants as 3.5-point favorites Thursday morning, Yardbarker reported.
Milton was McCarthy's teammate at Michigan. "I love him, but this weekend, it's go time," McCarthy said, per Giants.com.
Our Take: JJ McCarthy Is the Now
Back on Oct. 2, I said the idea that McCarthy needed time to learn the offense was funny. They didn't trade for him to be the future. He is the now.
Now he says he is caught up completely. That only backs up what I said.
In October, I wrote that McCarthy is not a rookie that you have to ease along. Then he went to Houston and proved it.
After that game, I said JJ is changing this offense, for the better. I also said the Giants have themselves a quarterback.
To be clear, I still think Jaxson Dart is the long-term guy. But for this season, the McCarthy trade is a home run.
Sunday in Philadelphia is the first look at a fully caught-up McCarthy. Go end the streak.
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