October 21 update
The Giants plan to start J.J. McCarthy against Houston on Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday. Jameis Winston is expected to return to the backup role. The decision follows McCarthy's 243-yard relief appearance against New Orleans and resolves the question Harbaugh left open Monday.
Earlier reporting
John Harbaugh left the Giants' starting-quarterback decision open Monday as New York prepared to choose between Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy for Sunday's game at Houston.
“We're working through that now, honing in on a decision,” Harbaugh said in the team's published transcript. He said the choice would depend on which personnel and approach gave the Giants their best chance to move the ball, score and protect possession.
McCarthy replaced Winston with the Giants down 34-10 in Sunday's 34-27 loss to New Orleans. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, according to the Associated Press. His final fourth-down throw toward Isaiah Likely fell incomplete in the end zone.
After the game, McCarthy told The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll that he hoped his performance showed the team it could trust him, while acknowledging that New York still needed to finish games better.
