Will Jake Haener Get a Chance to Compete With J.J. McCarthy Behind Jameis Winston?

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Will Jake Haener Get a Chance to Compete With J.J. McCarthy Behind Jameis Winston?

Heena Singh · Gridiron Heroics

Thu, Oct 8, 2026 ·

3 min read

Jake Haener Could Make J.J. McCarthy Earn Giants Backup Role

Dec 15, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener (3) looks on against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

McCarthy was expected to move up the depth chart once he had enough time to learn the Giants' offense. However, for now, Haener is back in the picture. The Giants already know Haener's situation well. He was on the active roster earlier this season before being waived and returning to the practice squad. He was also elevated for the team's Week 4 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, giving him more familiarity with the offense than McCarthy currently has.

That experience could matter. The Giants' head coach, John Harbaugh, previously indicated that Haener was further along in the offense than the newly acquired McCarthy. The player drafted in the fourth round has also had NFL experience, with Haener playing 8 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2024.

In this time, Haener had 18 completions on 39 passes for 226 yards, while he made one touchdown and one interception, with one start. Meanwhile, McCarthy still needs to learn the nuances of the system since he was acquired via trade. The Giants traded a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Vikings for the 10th pick overall.

That is why Haener's promotion is worth watching. Winston remains the starter; however, the Giants are not treating the quarterback depth chart as settled behind him. McCarthy has the pedigree to eventually take the backup job, yet Haener has something McCarthy does not have right now: familiarity with what New York is asking of its quarterbacks.

That does not mean Haener is suddenly ahead of McCarthy for the long term. It does mean McCarthy cannot simply assume the second spot belongs to him. The Giants have already gone through a similar situation this season. Haener was elevated after Jaxson Dart was lost for the year with a knee injury, only to be waived when the Giants acquired McCarthy. He cleared waivers and returned to the practice squad, where he remained until this latest move.

The team is now bringing him back to the active roster. The move also comes as the Giants deal with another roster change.

For Haener, that opening provides another opportunity. The bigger question is what happens once McCarthy is ready to take on a larger role. The former first-round pick has far more draft pedigree, but the Giants have no reason to rush him if Haener is capable of handling the backup duties.

McCarthy may have been acquired with a bigger future in mind, and Haener could still make him work for the present.

Jake Haener Could Make J.J. McCarthy Earn Giants Backup Role

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