New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy exited Sunday’s Week 9 game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a hip injury after absorbing a hard hit in the third quarter.
Third-Quarter Hit on Run
McCarthy sustained the injury while scrambling to his left on a designed quarterback run, USA Today reported. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun delivered a hard blow to the midsection of the 23-year-old quarterback at the end of the play, leaving McCarthy on the ground in pain, USA Today reported.
Before the injury, McCarthy was 9-of-13 passing for 101 yards and had taken five sacks in the first half while the Eagles held an 8-6 lead.
J. J. McCarthy has checked into the medical tent after taking a hit on the side of his throwing shoulder pic.twitter.com/OZGgN06Vfj
The collision also sent Baun to the locker room after an impressive defensive performance that included two sacks and three tackles for loss, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark. Baun’s exit forced middle-defense adjustments for Philadelphia, with Smael Mondon Jr. and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. stepping in.
Television broadcasts captured McCarthy attempting to throw passes on the sideline before he collapsed to the ground and grabbed his right side, USA Today reported. J.J. McCarthy in the Giants’ medical tent after a replay showed him collapsing while throwing on the sideline. Reached for his side as he did,
NFL insider Mike Garafolo posted on X ClutchPoints reported.
This was the hit JJ McCarthy took from #Eagles LB Zack Baun: pic.twitter.com/QCiW8mQhZK https://t.co/mQvpOdpeYt
Dan Duggan of The Athletic initially observed a potential shoulder issue during the sideline evaluation, while ProFootballDoc’s David J. Chao pointed to a possible ribs concern following the blow.
Medical staff escorted McCarthy into the blue medical tent before he jogged back toward the locker room with athletic trainers, USA Today reported. McCarthy has a hip injury per Pam Oliver on the broadcast. Return is questionable,
Sports Illustrated reported on X ClutchPoints reported. The Giants later officially listed McCarthy as questionable to return with a hip injury.
J. J. McCarthy shaken up after taking a hard hit on a zone-read. He jogs off field but Jameis Winston is in the game.
Winston Relief Appearance
Veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winston took over the offense during McCarthy’s absence, USA Today reported. Winston led the Giants on a touchdown drive, completing 6 of 8 passes for 71 yards during his relief work, USA Today reported.
J. J. McCarthy shaken up after taking a hard hit on a zone-read. He jogs off field but Jameis Winston is in the game,
ESPN reported on X ClutchPoints reported. Prior to exiting, McCarthy completed 9 of 13 passes for 101 yards and rushed three times for 11 yards, USA Today reported.
McCarthy has a hip injury per Pam Oliver on the broadcast. Return is questionable.
McCarthy Returns While Giants Face Limited Quarterback Depth
McCarthy ultimately returned to the game after missing the remainder of the go-ahead touchdown drive, USA Today reported. The Giants carry only two quarterbacks on their active game-day roster, leaving Jake Haener on the practice squad, USA Today reported.
Haener is a 2024 fourth-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints who has made one career start during his rookie season, appearing in eight total games with 18 completions on 39 attempts for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The team previously lost starter Jaxson Dart for the season due to a knee injury in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, USA Today reported. Winston opened the season as Dart’s backup, making four starts and posting a 2-1-1 record while completing 57% of his passes for 957 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions before ceding the starting role to McCarthy in Week 7, USA Today reported.
McCarthy joined the Giants following a late September trade from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. His arrival followed a collegiate career at Michigan and a rookie campaign in Minnesota that was wiped out entirely by a torn meniscus in August 2024 that required surgery.
JJ McCarthy in the #Giants’ medical tent after a replay showed him collapsing while throwing on the sideline. Reached for his side as he did.
His second professional season brought further durability challenges, including a Grade 3 high ankle sprain in September 2025 that caused a five-game absence, a November 2025 concussion that kept him out for a game, a December 2025 hairline fracture in his throwing hand that cost him another contest, a hand injury aggravation in Week 18 of January 2026, and an ankle issue that sidelined him for Minnesota’s final preseason game in August 2026 before his trade to New York.
After stepping in for Winston during the fourth quarter of a Week 6 game against the New Orleans Saints where he threw for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, McCarthy earned his first Giants start in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.
JJ McCarthy back on the sideline and getting his type hyped up NYGvsPHI on FOX/FOX One Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/olGaIvFJbR
He guided New York to an overtime victory by completing 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions before the team entered its bye week and prepared for the NFC East matchup in Philadelphia.
Earlier coverage: Jack Campbell Hospitalized With Neck Injury After Lions-Vikings Game
Injury Update: QB J. J. McCarthy is questionable to return with a hip injury pic.twitter.com/L0z8klihtu
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