JJ McCarthy Has a Hip Pointer; Giants Expect Him Ready Thursday
Published Nov 9, 2026, 12:00 PM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi
Key points
JJ McCarthy suffered a hip pointer injury on Sunday against the Eagles.
The Giants believe he will be ready to play Thursday night against the Washington Commanders.
Coach John Harbaugh said it looks like McCarthy is going to play and that he feels fairly good about it.
JJ McCarthy is dealing with a hip pointer, and the Giants still plan to have him for Thursday. Big Blue Film Room reported on X that he suffered the injury Sunday and that the team believes he will be ready against the Commanders.
The update lands on a five-day turnaround after New York's 19-11 win in Philadelphia. McCarthy is 2-0 as the Giants' starter since replacing Jaxson Dart.
Coach John Harbaugh told reporters it looks like McCarthy is going to play. He said he feels fairly good about it, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reported via CBS Sports.
How JJ McCarthy's Hip Injury Happened in Philadelphia
McCarthy was hurt on a quarterback run early in the second half. Eagles linebacker Zack Baun hit him after a 3-yard gain with 12:02 left in the third quarter, per Giants.com.
He was listed as questionable, then returned. Before leaving, he was 9 of 13 for 101 yards. He finished 12 of 19 for 127 yards and added four carries for 22 yards, the same Giants.com recap said.
Jameis Winston filled in for one series and threw a touchdown to Isaiah Likely that made it 13-8. McCarthy came back for the next drive and finished the game.
What Harbaugh and JJ McCarthy Said About Thursday
After the game, McCarthy said his hip was feeling pretty good. He said the Giants would do whatever they can to get close to 100 percent for Washington, Pro Football Talk reported.
Harbaugh's Monday comments went further. "It does look like he's gonna play," he said, per Leonard. "I feel fairly good about it."
The caveat is the calendar. Practice reps could be limited on a short week, CBS Sports noted, and McCarthy may not be fully healthy even if he starts.
By the Numbers: McCarthy's Day and the Week Ahead
Item | Number |
McCarthy final line vs. Eagles | 12 of 19, 127 yards |
Rushing | 4 carries, 22 yards |
Sacks taken | 5 |
Giants record | 5-2-1 |
Days until Commanders | 5 |
Source: Giants.com Instant Analysis.
What Comes Next for the Giants at Quarterback
The Giants host the Commanders on Thursday night. The first meeting ended in a 27-27 tie in Week 5 at Washington, per Giants.com.
Winston remains the backup after four starts earlier this season. The post did not say the Giants would change the starter if McCarthy is active.
McCarthy had said after the bye that he felt caught up completely on the offense. Thursday is the next test of that progress, with a hip pointer on a short week.
Our Take: Treat Thursday as an Availability Story First
I do not have a separate written take on this hip update yet, so the read is the reporting itself. The Giants are saying their starter should play, and Harbaugh sounded more confident Monday than the postgame hedges.
That matters because McCarthy is 2-0 in his Giants starts. He left Sunday's game, came back, and still finished field-goal drives. That toughness is real, and so is the five-day risk.
The honest caveat is the short week. A hip pointer can look fine on Monday and tighten by Thursday. Practice volume may drop, and that can show up late in a Thursday night game.
Winston's touchdown drive showed the backup can keep a lead if New York needs him for a series again. That safety net is why the team can sound calm while still monitoring the injury.
For now, the story is availability. McCarthy is the planned starter against Washington unless something changes in practice.
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