J.J. McCarthys resurgence took root long before joining Giants with plenty of room to grow

Perhaps the only thing more unlikely than the Giants being in first place in the NFC East heading into their bye week is how they got there.John Harbaugh was expected to make a difference in his first year at MetLife Stadium, but not like this.Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

Not with Devin Singletary, an afterthought for much of the season, ending Sunday’s win in Houston with a 30-yard touchdown run.Not with Jameis Winston — thrust into the starting role when Jaxson Dart was lost for the year with a knee injury in the second week of the season — now back in a backup role and still rushing for a score against the Texans.And certainly not with J.J.

McCarthy leading the way as the team’s new quarterback after his career appeared to be going nowhere in Minnesota, which drafted McCarthy 10th overall in 2024.But here are the Giants, at 4-2-1 and with a clear path to a division title.It’s McCarthy who has perhaps the greatest chance to alter the trajectory of his career after being shipped to the Giants for a fifth-round pick less than a month ago.He responded by throwing for 243 yards in less than a quarter when he replaced Winston late in their loss to the Saints, then followed with a career-best 252 yards against the Texans in the same stadium where he led Michigan to a national title in 2024.“It’s one of those things where you think you’re starting over, but no, you’re starting from experience,’’ McCarthy said of righting himself with the Giants.He is still only 23 and started just 10 games with the Vikings last season before falling to third on their depth chart behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz to start this season.But he arrived at MetLife Stadium seemingly built for the offense the Giants hoped to run before Dart got hurt.Sign up for Inside the Giants by Paul Schwartz, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

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