From Minnesota's Third String to Prime Time: J.J. McCarthy Shakes Off a Hip Pointer as the First-Place Giants Host Washington

The New York Giants did not trade for J.J. McCarthy to watch him sit. Days after a hit in Philadelphia sent him to the locker room, the quarterback practiced in full and is in line to lead the first-place Giants against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m., and the Giants are asking fans to turn the building into a White Out. New York is 5-2-1 and leads the NFC East, while Washington is 2-5-1, and the two teams tied in their first meeting this season. A win would give the Giants a commanding lead in the division, ESPN reported.

McCarthy suffered a hip pointer in Sunday's 19-11 win over the Eagles. He took a hard hit from Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun on the second play of the second half, ESPN reported. Bleacher Report described McCarthy trying a throw on the sideline, wincing, dropping to a knee and slamming his helmet before heading inside, as the Giants listed him as questionable to return.

Jameis Winston came in and went 6-of-8 for 71 yards, leading the touchdown drive that put New York ahead and accounting for the Giants' only touchdown of the day. McCarthy then came back out and helped close the game. He finished 12-of-19 for 127 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, was sacked five times, and ran four times for 22 yards, second-most on the team.

That is not a stat line that makes the highlight shows. It is the kind of line a quarterback puts up when he is willing to stand in, take the punishment and finish what he started. Cornerback Greg Newsome praised McCarthy's toughness, the Associated Press reported.

Coach John Harbaugh did not want to overpromise on Monday. He said he did not want to get ahead of himself, according to Field Level Media, but he left little doubt about which way things were heading. "It does look like he's going to play," Harbaugh said on a video call, adding that he felt fairly good about it, according to the AP.

The practice reports backed him up. The Giants listed McCarthy as limited Monday and a full participant Tuesday and Wednesday with the hip, with no game status attached, according to the team's official injury report, which noted that Monday's listing was a projection.

McCarthy's road to this moment has not been smooth. The Giants traded for him after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, and Minnesota had dropped him to third on its depth chart behind Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray, Field Level Media reported.

He made the most of the second chance. Coming off the bench against New Orleans, the Michigan product threw for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and in his first start for New York he threw for 252 yards in an overtime win over Houston, according to Bleacher Report. Now he gets a prime-time stage in front of a home crowd with first place on the line.

For a young quarterback who was a backup's backup not long ago, that is a remarkable turn. It is also a reminder that a demotion is not the end of a story unless a player lets it be. McCarthy kept working, and when the door opened in New York, he was ready to walk through it.

McCarthy should have more support Thursday. Running back Cam Skattebo missed the Eagles game with a hamstring injury, and Devin Singletary started in his place, carrying 21 times for 31 yards as the Giants averaged 2.6 yards per rush. "He should be full-go on Thursday night," Harbaugh said of Skattebo, who was a full participant Tuesday and Wednesday. Receiver Malik Nabers was listed with a knee issue but practiced fully all week.

Washington brings its own concerns. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was listed with a left elbow injury but practiced fully all three days, while center Lucas Patrick (concussion) and tight end Colson Yankoff (knee) were ruled out and receiver Treylon Burks (foot) did not practice Wednesday, according to the Giants' injury report.

The math is simple. Beat Washington and the Giants put real distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC East. Stumble against a division rival that has already played them to a tie, and the race stays open.

For McCarthy, Thursday is a chance to show that what he showed in Philadelphia was not a one-day thing. Quarterbacks earn their teammates' trust on nights like this one, when the hip is sore, the week is short and the whole country is watching.