What happened: The Giants acquired McCarthy from the Vikings for a fifth-round pick after placing Jaxson Dart on injured reserve Sept. 24 with a season-ending knee injury. McCarthy practiced with the offense this week but is not expected to play Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals. Tight end Isaiah Likely said veterans are reiterating calls with McCarthy in meetings, film work and on the field.

Why it matters: Dart started 14 games in 2025, leaving New York thin at quarterback during the regular season. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024 out of Michigan, gives New York a young backup who could start later in the year. Likely's early work with him shows how quickly timing must develop for the offense to function.

What to watch: Watch Week 4 against Arizona for how the offense operates while McCarthy continues learning the system. Any move into the starting role would come after that game.