Jameis Winston gets the keys Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, and the New York Giants are already glancing at the spare set.
Jaxson Dart underwent surgery on Friday to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee, ending his season. Head coach John Harbaugh left a sliver of hope for a playoff return, but the immediate job belongs to Winston.
Thrown into a plan built for Dart on Monday night, Winston went 11 of 27 for 111 yards with an interception in a 28-6 loss to the Rams. New York spent the week rewriting the menu around a pocket passer instead of a dual-threat.
How hard the Giants push for another quarterback will depend, in part, on what Winston does at a windy, rainy Meadowlands. Jake Haener was signed off the practice squad on Saturday
to back him up. Harbaugh said all options remain open.
ESPN reports that the list includes free agent Jimmy Garoppolo, Arizona Cardinals backup Gardner Minshew II, Minnesota Vikings reserve J.J. McCarthy, San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones, Kansas City Chiefs backup Justin Fields and former Giants camp quarterback Brandon Allen.
Garoppolo is the simplest add because he would not cost a draft pick. His camp has spoken with New York this week, though he has not worked out. After flirting with retirement, he wants a 53-man roster spot rather than the practice squad.
Minshew played for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy in Kansas City, and Fields is in a similar system now. Jones went 5-3 last year filling in for Brock Purdy. McCarthy sits third in Minnesota, and the Giants have been doing their homework.
Sunday is Winston’s first real audition of the post-Dart era. The shopping list is already printed.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: J.J. McCarthy, Justin Fields among 6 QBs New York Giants are considering
