The Aporia · JJ McCarthy steps up as Giants potential starting quarterback while running back Cam Skattebo sits on bench

JJ McCarthy steps up as Giants potential starting quarterback while running back Cam Skattebo sits on bench

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Salguero, A. (2026, October 18). JJ McCarthy steps up as Giants potential starting quarterback while running back Cam Skattebo sits on bench. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/jj-mccarthy-steps-giants-potential-starting-quarterback-running-back-cam-skattebo-sits-bench

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Quick Summary

New York Giants coach John Harbaugh benched both quarterback Jameis Winston and running back Cam Skattebo during a recent game, with Winston being ineffective and Skattebo not carrying the ball due to fumbling issues. In contrast, backup quarterback JJ McCarthy performed well in the fourth quarter, throwing for 243 yards and leading a comeback effort that narrowed a significant deficit despite the eventual loss. Harbaugh has yet to decide on a new starter but praised McCarthy's performance, suggesting potential changes could be forthcoming.

Written by AI on 2026-10-18, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

J.J. McCarthy entered the game for Jameis Winston after Winston threw two interceptions and was ineffective, leading a fourth-quarter rally but ultimately unable to secure victory as the Giants lost 34-27 to the Saints. The loss marked the first time since 2008 that the Giants could not achieve a 4-0 home record at MetLife Stadium. Coach John Harbaugh also benched running back Cam Skattebo, who had fumbled four times and lost one this season, further complicating the team's offensive strategy moving forward. The Saints' victory ended their three-game skid and provided them with momentum heading into an overseas game in Paris against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Backup cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley struggled significantly against Giants receivers Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely during the game, allowing for substantial yardage and a touchdown. Despite the loss, McCarthy's performance sparked discussions about potential quarterback changes within the team. The Saints' defense managed to secure a crucial fourth-down stop in the end zone, preventing a comeback attempt by the Giants. This victory was particularly significant as it provided relief from recent struggles and dissatisfaction among ownership. The Saints now aim to build on this win with their upcoming game against the Steelers in Paris.

Written for “Giants' Loss to Saints” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

11%

4 of 36 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

69/100

Fox News's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-10-18 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

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Running correction rate · 11 correction(s)

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Who wrote this

Armando Salguero

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Topics

FOX FOX News Giants New York Giants State Farm

Subjects

Harbaugh PERSON · 10× Giants ORG · 6× Skattebo PERSON · 5× McCarthy PERSON · 4× Winston PERSON · 3× Cam Skattebo PERSON · 2× J.J. McCarthy PERSON · 2× Jameis Winston PERSON · 1× New York Giants ORG · 1× State Farm ORG · 1×

Narrative

About the only time anyone saw New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo on Sunday was in a State Farm commercial, in the locker room afterward or on the same bench we also saw quarterback Jameis Winston, who spent the fourth quarter as a backup while J.J. McCarthy led a rally.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-18

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2026-10-18 · Fox News

JJ McCarthy steps up as Giants potential starting quarterback while running back Cam Skattebo sits on bench · assertive framing

Claims (36 extracted, 4 hedged)

McCarthy → see → rally

So, yes, coach John Harbaugh had just about had it with some of his guys, both early and late on Sunday. asserted

Harbaugh → have → Sunday

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. uncertain

page → contain → partners

If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. uncertain

News → sign → wager

This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom. asserted

that → create → newsroom

The Giants' coach benched Skattebo, even though he said he didn't. asserted

he → bench → Skattebo

Skattebo got in the game but didn't carry the football, perhaps because he's fumbled four times and lost one this season. asserted

he → get → one

Harbaugh also benched Winston in the fourth quarter after he'd thrown two interceptions and was mostly ineffective. asserted

he → bench → interceptions

And now we've got issues to sort out because the Giants may be looking at a new starting quarterback, while Skattebo has to work his way back into his coach's good graces by playing better. uncertain

Skattebo → get → graces

"How they play is kind of the main thing," Harbaugh said. asserted

Harbaugh → play → ?

What did Harbaugh get for his lineup changes? The Giants run game was 84 yards of forgettable New Jersey mileage. asserted

game → get → mileage

But the team got McCarthy to strongly state his case for being the starting quarterback going forward. asserted

McCarthy → get → case

McCarthy played well in throwing for 243 yards in the final 11 minutes of the game and helping to erase a 34-10 deficit in a tough 34-27 loss. "I thought he came in there and did a heck of a job given the circumstances," Harbaugh said. asserted

Harbaugh → play → circumstances

And this is what Harbaugh didn't say: That Winston will remain the starter for the next game. asserted

Winston → say → game

"I can't answer that now," Harbaugh said. asserted

Harbaugh → answer → that

"Game just ended 10 minutes ago." asserted

Game → end → ?

The New York media pressed Harbaugh on the subject. asserted

media → press → subject

And the coach pushed back. asserted

coach → push → ?

"Just like I said, I can't answer it now," he repeated. asserted

he → say → it

We got to go back and go to work. asserted

We → got → work

I mean, I have no problem with Jameis whatsoever. asserted

I → mean → Jameis

I love the way he competes, love the way he fights. asserted

he → love → way

You didn't hear it, either, did you? asserted

you → hear → it

He didn't say Winston remains the starter. asserted

Winston → say → ?

This is good news for McCarthy, who was traded to the Giants from the Vikings last month. asserted

who → trade → Vikings

"I'm not pleased when you lose," McCarthy said. asserted

McCarthy → please → ?

"At the end of the day, no matter what happens, we try to get that 1-0 win each and every week, and I've got to look back at the tape and find ways to get better. asserted

I → happen → ways

The Giants have a lot of improving they need to do with their running game. asserted

they → have → game

And that definitely is a competition right now as four running backs – Najee Harris, Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary – vie for playing time and carries. asserted

backs → vie → time

"Nobody's really taken the bull by the horns," Harbaugh said of his running backs. asserted

Harbaugh → take → backs

So we put four guys [active] and see if we can get something going with the running game. asserted

something → put → game

"It wasn't by design for [Skattebo] to not carry the ball. asserted

Skattebo → carry → ball

When he was in there, we didn't call any runs. asserted

we → call → runs

And this: "One of those guys needs to step up," Harbaugh said. asserted

Harbaugh → need → guys

"One of those guys needs to step up and be the back." asserted

One → need → guys

The Giants need a running back to step up, which is something we may have seen Sunday from a new starting quarterback. uncertain

we → need → quarterback