Giants ‘Feel Fairly Good’ About QB J.J. McCarthy Playing Thursday Against Commanders After Hip Injury

The New York Giants are optimistic that quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be available for Thursday night’s NFC East matchup against the Washington Commanders after suffering a hip pointer in Sunday’s 19-11 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the team feels positive about McCarthy’s recovery, although his condition will continue to be monitored over the next few days.

The Giants also expect running back Cam Skattebo to return after missing the Eagles game with a hamstring injury. Having both players available would provide a significant boost for New York as it prepares for another important divisional contest at MetLife Stadium.

John Harbaugh Provides Positive Update on J.J. McCarthy’s Hip Injury

McCarthy suffered a hip pointer after taking a hard hit from Philadelphia Eagles middle linebacker Zack Baun on the second play of the second half. The injury forced him to miss most of the third quarter, with backup quarterback Jameis Winston stepping in to lead the Giants’ offense.

However, McCarthy returned to the game and helped New York close out its 19-11 victory. His condition appeared encouraging on Monday, with Harbaugh indicating that the quarterback was making progress.

“He’s doing well,” Harbaugh said on a video call with reporters. “We’ll find out more through the course of the day and couple days. But it does look like he’s going to play. Feel fairly good about that, but I don’t want to get over my skis with it. But it seems good so far.”

Harbaugh’s comments suggest that the Giants are preparing for McCarthy to start against Washington, although the team is not yet treating his availability as completely confirmed.

McCarthy also sounded confident about his recovery immediately after Sunday’s game. Despite taking a significant hit, he said he felt good and expected to do everything possible to be ready for the short turnaround.

“I feel good,” McCarthy said afterward. “At the end of the day, [as] I said, it’s a physical game, and a lot of guys are banged up, but we’re going to do our best to make sure we turn over as fast as possible and do whatever we can between now and then and make sure we’re as close to 100% leading up to a great opponent against Washington.”

McCarthy Looks to Continue Winning Start With the Giants

The upcoming game against Washington could mark McCarthy’s third start for New York since joining the team through a trade with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season.

The quarterback has made an encouraging start to his Giants career, helping the team secure victories over the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles in his first two starts. Another win would strengthen New York’s position in the NFC East and give McCarthy an opportunity to continue building momentum.

Against Philadelphia, McCarthy completed 12 of 19 passes for 127 yards without a touchdown or interception. He was sacked five times but also contributed 22 rushing yards on four carries, making him the Giants’ second-leading rusher in the contest.

His ability to contribute on the ground could become especially important if the Giants continue to face difficulties establishing their running game.

Cam Skattebo Also Expected to Return Against Washington

Alongside the positive update on McCarthy, Harbaugh also indicated that running back Cam Skattebo should be ready to play Thursday night after missing the Eagles matchup with a hamstring injury.

Skattebo initially injured his hamstring during one of the final plays of New York’s overtime victory over the Texans before the team’s bye week. He did not practice throughout the following week and was listed as doubtful ahead of Sunday’s game.

Although Skattebo pushed to play against Philadelphia, the coaching staff decided against risking his availability, particularly with another game scheduled just four days later.

“He was very close. We just decided not to take the risk that would go with it,” Harbaugh said. “There were some things that were going to be limited just a little bit maybe, and we decided not to go down that road because of the short week this week. He should be full-go on Thursday night.”

The Giants will hope Skattebo’s return can improve their rushing production and reduce some of the pressure on McCarthy. New York averaged only 2.6 yards per carry against the Eagles, highlighting the importance of getting its running game back on track.

Devin Singletary Struggles to Establish Giants’ Running Game

With Skattebo unavailable against Philadelphia, Devin Singletary started at running back but managed just 31 yards on 21 carries. Recently acquired Greg Desrosiers Jr. was the only other Giants running back to receive carries.

Desrosiers had joined New York after being signed off the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad one week earlier. The limited production from the running backs made McCarthy’s contributions on the ground even more important.

Skattebo’s expected return could give the Giants a more balanced offensive attack against Washington. His availability would also provide additional support for McCarthy as the quarterback continues recovering from his hip injury.

Giants’ Jonathan Taylor Trade Interest Remains a Talking Point

New York has also been linked with Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor as the team considers ways to strengthen its backfield. However, the Giants recently withdrew their offer for the running back.

The NFL trade deadline is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET, leaving the possibility that New York could still make another move before Thursday night’s game.

With Skattebo expected to return, the Giants may have a healthier backfield heading into the Washington matchup. Nevertheless, the team’s recent interest in Taylor highlights the importance of improving its rushing options as the season progresses.

Jameis Winston Steps In After McCarthy Leaves With Injury

McCarthy’s injury created an opportunity for Jameis Winston to take over under center during Sunday’s game. Winston responded by leading New York on a touchdown drive later in the third quarter, producing the Giants’ only touchdown of the contest.

He finished the game completing six of eight passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. His contribution helped the Giants maintain their advantage while McCarthy was temporarily sidelined.

McCarthy eventually returned and completed the victory, finishing with 127 passing yards. Although the offense did not produce a high-scoring performance, the Giants managed to secure an important win over Philadelphia.

Giants Have Chance to Strengthen NFC East Position Against Commanders

The Giants enter Thursday night’s game with a 5-2-1 record and an opportunity to strengthen their position in the NFC East. They have already recorded victories over the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, while their first meeting with Washington ended in a tie.

A victory over the Commanders would give New York another important divisional result and potentially create a commanding advantage in the race for the NFC East.

The team’s chances could depend heavily on the availability of McCarthy and Skattebo. McCarthy’s continued progress would provide stability at quarterback, while Skattebo’s return could help address the rushing struggles seen against Philadelphia.

For now, the Giants remain optimistic about having both players available. Harbaugh’s Monday update was encouraging, but McCarthy’s recovery will be monitored closely before the team takes the field against Washington on Thursday night.