J.J. McCarthy will start at QB for Giants in Week 7 against the Texans

J.J. McCarthy will start at quarterback for the Giants on Sunday against the Texans, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.

McCarthy replaces Jameis Winston, who started the last four games and went 2-1-1. The third-year quarterback was acquired by the Giants via trade from the Vikings last month after starter Jaxson Dart was lost for the season with a knee injury.

"I thought Jameis has done a tremendous job, won us games, played well," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "As we go forward here, this is going to be our direction. We think it gives us some good options on offense."

McCarthy replaced Winston in the fourth quarter of last week’s game against the Saints and nearly led the Giants to a 21-point comeback win. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards with a touchdown, a two-point conversion pass and an interception.

John Harbaugh had left the door open to such a change when he last spoke with reporters on Monday afternoon.

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.