Giants Trade for Vikings QB McCarthy After Dart Injury

The New York Giants agreed to trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the teams announced, days after Giants starter Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the rest of the 2026 regular season with a knee injury. The deal, pending McCarthy passing a physical, sends a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to Minnesota.²⁶⁴

The trade

Vikings.com confirmed the move in a statement: "The Vikings have traded J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants," and said in exchange, Minnesota would receive a 2027 fifth-round selection from the Giants. The trade is pending McCarthy clearing a physical exam.⁴²

Following the deal, the Giants waived quarterback Jake Haener from the active roster, returning him to the practice squad, according to Yahoo Sports.⁸

Jameis Winston, who took over after Dart's injury, remains the Giants' starting quarterback. According to ESPN, coach John Harbaugh said the team had been discussing the need to add a quarterback "ever since I think Jaxson got hurt."¹⁵

Dart's injury

Dart was hurt in the opening quarter of the Giants' Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Rams, which New York lost 28-6, according to NBC News and ESPN. ESPN reported he was hit on the right side by Byron Young, sending him into Josaiah Stewart, who undercut his legs.³¹

Scans revealed that Dart's left knee suffered meniscus, MCL and PCL damage, but his ACL remained undamaged, ESPN reported. Harbaugh announced Dart would undergo surgery and miss the rest of the regular season, according to NBC News and ESPN; NBC News reported he may return for the playoffs.³¹

According to ESPN, operations addressing a torn meniscus and MCL usually require about six months of recovery, whereas an ACL tear would have kept Dart out for nine months or more. The Giants expect him to make a full recovery in time for the 2027 season, according to ESPN.¹

Dart, 23, played down the physical toll of the injury. Dart said he expects to absorb hits whether he's in the pocket or outside it. He said this physical style of play has been part of his game his entire life, adding that football, unlike soccer, involves contact. You're going to get hit. Things happen. It's just part of the game."³¹

Prior to getting hurt, Dart had gone 23-for-29 through the air for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 54 rushing yards in the Giants' season-opening victory over the Cowboys, ESPN reported. Stepping in against the Rams, Winston went 11-for-27 for 111 yards and threw one interception, according to ESPN.¹

McCarthy's path to New York

Jim Harbaugh served as McCarthy's head coach during his college career at Michigan, ESPN and The Guardian reported. The Guardian and ESPN reported he was selected by the Vikings with the tenth pick of the 2024 draft, a claim disputed by the Vikings' own team-site account of the trade.²¹⁴

McCarthy lost the Vikings' starting job in training camp to Kyler Murray, according to ESPN and The Guardian, and, per Yahoo Sports, fell to third string behind Murray and Carson Wentz. ESPN reported he was later demoted to third string following an ankle injury.¹²⁸

ESPN reported that McCarthy's stint in Minnesota wrapped up after just 10 starts, making him one of four Vikings first-round selections to appear in 10 games or fewer, and one of only four quarterbacks over a 25-year stretch to start 10 or fewer games for the franchise that drafted them.¹

Per ESPN's advanced metrics, McCarthy closed out 2025 with a 36.1 QBR, good for 38th among 45 quarterbacks, along with a minus-5% completion rate over expected, a 4.2% interception rate (44th), a 9.4% sack rate (40th) and a 1.8% fumble rate (41st). Both The Guardian and Vikings.com noted McCarthy has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in his NFL career.¹²⁴

Reaction

ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell offered a mixed assessment: "I'm not sure where I land, but I can see a case for McCarthy thriving in New York, and I can see one where he disappoints Giants fans," he wrote, adding that McCarthy "is still young enough for us to be wrong and was better by the end of his rookie season than many of us remember." He also said, "I can't fault the Giants for trying to do something given Dart's injury, but I would be very surprised if McCarthy was any sort of short- or long-term answer."¹

Star Tribune reporter Nolan Teasley said the Vikings had received "a lot of inquiries" about McCarthy before the trade. Winston, meanwhile, said of Dart, "Me and Jaxson have talked. Winston said the injury is still recent, so he intends to keep encouraging Dart. He's a warrior," while adding of his own status, "All options are open."⁷¹