Giants' Rushing Gambit with J.J. McCarthy Sparks Fan Outcry

When the New York Giants tried to get creative against the Washington Commanders last week, the plan backfired in a spectacularly obvious way. Coach Joe Judge called two "rushing packages" for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, hoping to exploit his athleticism. Instead, the young passer managed a pitiful two rushing yards before the Commanders’ defense simply said, "No thanks."

It didn’t take long for the backlash to roll in. On X, a slew of fans posted jokes that read, "Is J.J. McCarthy not allowed to throw the ball?" and "These McCarthy rushing packages need to be scrapped." The tone was equal parts bewilderment and irritation – many felt the Giants were treating McCarthy like a gimmick rather than a legit quarterback.

One user summed it up succinctly: "Using J.J. McCarthy as a gimmick QB is a joke. Bringing him in to run the most obvious option because he can’t pass is just trolling." Another chimed in, "This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen. They can’t have McCarthy run every snap." The consensus? The experiment was a dud, and the fans want it gone.

Of course, the Commanders deserve credit. Their rush defense was airtight, allowing no Giants player to break the 30‑yard mark. Even the team’s leading rusher, Cam Skattebo, only managed a meager 2.9 yards per carry, while veteran Jameis Winston added a modest 12 yards on four attempts.

The bigger picture, though, starts with why McCarthy is even on the field. The Giants’ original dual‑threat quarterback, Jaxson Dart, was ripped from his rookie season after a catastrophic knee injury in Week 2. Dart, who had thrown for 230 yards and three touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards against Dallas, suffered a full‑meniscus tear plus MCL and PCL damage against the Rams. After surgery, he was ruled out for the rest of the year.

In need of a replacement, New York traded a draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for J.J. McCarthy, the former Michigan standout. He now sits as the official QB2 behind Winston, and the coaching staff seemed eager to give him a taste of the run‑heavy play‑calling, perhaps to buy time until Dart returns.

Whether those rushing packages will stick around is still up in the air. For now, the fanbase is loud and clear: stop forcing McCarthy to run, let him throw the ball, and stop treating the Giants’ offense like a circus act.

Giants Nation will be watching closely as the season unfolds. If the team wants to regain credibility on offense, they’ll need to rethink the script and give J.J. McCarthy the chance to do what quarterbacks are traditionally paid to do – throw the football.