JJ McCarthy Being Named Giants’ Starting QB Doesn’t Sit Well With Emmanuel Acho

Emmanuel Acho predicts JJ McCarthy to choke when the New York Giants play against the Houston Texans.

JJ McCarthy Being Named Giants’ Starting QB Doesn’t Sit Well With Emmanuel Acho

JJ McCarthy and Emmanuel Acho inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

Emmanuel Acho urged New York Giants supporters not to have high hopes for JJ McCarthy. The retired NFL linebacker also picked the Houston Texans’ defense to shut down McCarthy on Sunday.

Giants Head coach John Harbaugh named McCarthy the starter for their Week 7 fixture against the Texans in Houston. The Texans began the year with four straight defeats but have won the last two against divisional opponents. Most recently, they took down the four-win Jaguars in London.

From Acho’s perspective, the Texans defense is among the best despite the losing record. And the defense will make life hell for McCarthy, who hasn’t had enough time to learn Matt Nagy’s offense.

“JJ McCarthy bouta go out there and stink it up!” Emmanuel Acho said on Wednesday’s Speakeasy.

Acho also predicted that Harbaugh won’t wait too long to remove McCarthy as the starter if he fails to deliver a win. “His starting job will be very quickly taken away,” Acho said.

The Giants traded for McCarthy after starter Jaxson Dart picked up a season-ending injury. The Giants sent a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for McCarthy.

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JJ McCarthy reacts to being named the Giants starter

Harbaugh turned to veteran Jameis Winston after Dart got hurt. Despite his experience, Winston struggled to play the level of football expected of him. This prompted Harbaugh to trade for McCarthy.

JJ McCarthy Being Named Giants' Starting QB Doesn't Sit Well With Emmanuel Acho
JJ McCarthy (Image via IMAGO)

McCarthy replaced Winston in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints last week while they trailed 31-10.

McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finishing with a 90.0 passer rating. The Giants fell short of a turnaround, but McCarthy did enough to earn the starter’s job.

Just being around great talent and great coaches, absolutely love everyone on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side of the ball does a tremendous job of just giving us opportunities and always making sure we stay in the game and fight till the last seconds of each game.

JJ McCarthy told reporters on Wednesday

Harbaugh was the driving force behind bringing McCarthy to the Big Apple. As the 23-year-old played for his brother Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, he was well acquainted with McCarthy and his playing style.

However, the Giants players are the main reason Harbaugh is trusting McCarthy to start against the Texans. “The players know more than anybody who the good players are. They’re the ones out there playing with them,” Harbaugh said.

McCarthy went 27-1 with Michigan and won the 2023-24 college football championship. The Vikings drafted him with the 10th overall pick. He didn’t play in his rookie season after suffering a bad knee injury.

He played 10 games in 2025 in two spells. He went 6-4, racked up 140 completions (57.6%), 1632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 4 touchdowns.

Ahead of the 2026 season, the Vikings signed former Heisman Trophy winner and first overall draft pick Kyler Murray and re-signed veteran Carson Wentz. Meanwhile, McCarthy got demoted to third choice. Later in September, the Vikings traded McCarthy to the Giants.

The Giants released Najee Harris

The Giants won three of the first four games and haven’t won since. The run game ranks near the bottom after six weeks, with Cam Skattebo no longer taking snaps at running back.

The Giants expected Najee Harris to fix the issue, but he was mostly limited to a rotational role. Harris criticized the approach, and the Giants retaliated. He was released this week.

Harris finished his Giants spell with 31 carries for 99 yards in five appearances. At the moment, the Giants have Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy as designated running backs on the roster.

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