The New York Giants quarterback plans to start on Thursday night even after limping through the final 16 minutes of Sunday’s win against the Eagles. He suffered a hip injury that kept him out for most of the third quarter, yet he insists he is ready to go. This is a short week for the Giants, and the clock is ticking fast.
Showing that he feels fine, McCarthy exited the locker room to high-five his teammates. “It was my first time running full speed and trying to get it going,” McCarthy said, according to the New York Post. He knows the game is physical and that many players are hurt, but he wants to get back to 100 percent before facing Washington. The Giants need their starter if they want to keep their lead in the NFC East.
Harbaugh Won’t Push a Risk
Head coach John Harbaugh is taking a cautious approach. The Giants will have only one full practice on Tuesday before the game. Harbaugh made it clear that the staff is not forcing McCarthy to play if he isn’t ready. “We weren’t pushing him back out there,” head coach John Harbaugh said. Although McCarthy played, he demanded participation. That choice belongs to the player, not the coach.
This situation brings back memories of McCarthy’s time with the Minnesota Vikings. He was injury-plagued for two years and missed his entire rookie season in 2024. The Giants cannot afford another long layoff. When McCarthy fell and the offense stalled without him, Jameis Winston entered Sunday to direct a 14-play drive.
A Short Week for a Big Game
The Giants beat the Eagles 19-11 on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. The win kept the NFC East lead safe. Now the team must prepare for Washington in less than four days. McCarthy returned to the field just as the defense forced a punt, and he scrambled for a key first down while still limping between plays.
The Giants (5-2-1) face the Eagles (2-7) again on Thursday, but the real test comes then. McCarthy wants to act quickly and do everything he can before the game. He will face a great opponent in Washington, and the team needs him at his best. With McCarthy returning as leader in the fourth quarter, Dominic Zvada converted his third and fourth field goals on consecutive attempts.
