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Giants’ Jameis Winston Reacts to Losing Starting QB Job to J.J. McCarthy
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- Giants’ Jameis Winston Reacts to Losing Starting QB Job to J.J. McCarthy
Jameis Winston and the New York Giants are having an unexpected season. The backup quarterback was thrust to become the starter after starting quarterback Jaxson Dart sustained a season-ending injury.
The franchise currently has 4 wins, 2 losses, and a tie so far this season. The player was later demoted for newcomer J.J. McCarthy, who was traded from the Minnesota Vikings. Despite the demotion, Winston has expressed a strong, ambitious goal this season.
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Jameis Winston declares Super Bowl LXI ambition
Dart suffered his season-ending knee injury in Week 2, and Winston then stepped up. He started four of the Giants' first six games in 2026. He compiled a 2-1-1 record, completing 57 percent of his passes for 957 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing five interceptions.
Oct 4, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It was his performance against the New Orleans Saints which changed things. He completed 14 of 26 passes for 152 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before being replaced early in the fourth quarter. McCarthy entered and completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception, sparking a late rally that fell short in a 34-27 loss.
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Head coach John Harbaugh named McCarthy the starter for the following game against the Houston Texans. McCarthy completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 252 yards in a 27-21 victory. Winston appeared briefly and scored a rushing touchdown.
Speaking on his podcast " The Jameis Winston Show ," Winston expressed his desire for greatness despite being demoted. He said, "When you are obsessed with greatness, your circumstances, conditions, and facts, they cannot interrupt what you're obsessed with. My desire is to be a Super Bowl LXI–winning quarterback. And no circumstance, condition, or fact can take me off of that."
He added, "So, when I am leading my team from the front lines where I am the starting quarterback or if I'm taking a backseat and leading my team from the second line, I still am desiring greatness, gratitude, success for my team, because what I want for myself, I want for everyone." However, he expressed no bitterness for McCarthy and was not upset with being benched .
Jameis Winston praises J.J. McCarthy
Winston also had high praise for McCarthy, despite being replaced by him. He said , "Anytime you have a quarterback change and the quarterback gets their first win, immediately you see a shift in the team's momentum to support and lifting up of that quarterback."
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He added, "And JJ did an outstanding job, man, to get his first win as a starting quarterback for the New York Football Giants. And that momentum, it can help propel you even into the next game. Yes, we got a bye week, and we're coming back with a division opponent next. But when you go on the road and you get a gritty win like that, it just puts a spirit. spirit of joy and a spirit of motivation in your heart for the next opponent."
Jameis Winston will be supporting J.J. McCarthy from the bench when the Giants take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the next game.
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