Giants trade for J.J. McCarthy, giving new life to QB buried on Vikings roster

The New York Giants are wasting little time replenishing their quarterback depth chart. A week after starter Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury that will cost him at least the remainder of the regular season, the Giants have opted to acquired Minnesota Vikings backup J.J. McCarthy, according to USA

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What is the story about?

The New York Giants are wasting little time replenishing their quarterback depth chart.

A week after starter Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury that will cost him at least the remainder of the regular season, the Giants have opted to acquired Minnesota Vikings backup J.J. McCarthy, according to USA TODAY Network's Art Stapleton.

McCarthy, the tenth overall pick of the 2024 draft, had fallen to third on the Vikings' depth chart. He missed his entire rookie year with a meniscus injury and then struggled as the team's starter in 2025. Minnesota signed Kyler Murray in the offseason, and he beat out McCarthy for the QB1 role before preseason games even started. Carson Wentz later secured the backup job and played in the team's first two games while

Murray was out with a concussion.

Giants just traded for Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, per source. A fifth-round pick going to Minnesota.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 28, 2026