Giants Weigh QB Options, Pending Jameis Winston’s Week 3 Performance Against Titans

Jameis Winston is in the spotlight Sunday in his first start of the post- Jaxson Dart portion of the 2026 season, and the New York Giants ' next quarterback is expected to come into focus as early as next week.

QB2 is now QB1 for New York, and how hard the Giants push to acquire a veteran quarterback will be determined, in part, by how Winston performs Sunday against the Tennessee Titans .

Giants coach John Harbaugh said "all options are open" for which quarterback his team will bring in.

Sources told ESPN and NFL Network that the list of quarterbacks includes free agent Jimmy Garoppolo , Cardinals backup Gardner Minshew II , Vikings reserve J.J. McCarthy , 49ers backup Mac Jones and Chiefs backup Justin Fields .

Brandon Allen , who was in training camp with the Giants, is also a possibility.

Dart is out for the regular season after undergoing surgery Friday to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee, although Harbaugh did leave the door open for a possible return by the second-year star if New York makes a playoff run.

If Winston struggles again as he did against the Los Angeles Rams after being thrust into action in Week 2, the push for a new quarterback could be significant. Jake Haener was signed from the practice squad Saturday and will serve as Winston's backup against the Titans.

Winston was 11-of-27 for 111 yards with an interception in the Giants' 28-6 loss to the Rams on "Monday Night Football."

There have been conversations with Garoppolo and his camp this past week, though he has not come in for a workout. He might be the Giants' most intriguing option, because signing Garoppolo would not require giving up a draft pick in a trade.

Garoppolo mulled retirement during the offseason but ultimately decided he is open to a return in the right circumstances, preferring to being on the 53-man roster -- instead of the practice squad -- if he does sign. The Rams wanted him back all offseason, and the Cardinals made a run as well.

But Garoppolo remains unsigned and is considering the Giants.

As for the others, Minshew played for Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy with the Chiefs, and Fields plays in the same system now in Kansas City. Jones is considered to be among the NFL's top backups, having gone 5-3 last year in relief of Brock Purdy .

McCarthy is intriguing because of his talent and because he is currently entrenched as Minnesota's third-string quarterback. The Giants have been doing legwork on McCarthy, making sure they can make an informed decision.

Will one of these names be necessary? The Giants feel like Winston played so poorly against the Rams, in part, because their game plan was tailored to Dart. Having to adjust to a pocket-passing quarterback like Winston proved a challenge. In addition, the silent count was an issue because Winston didn't rep it with them last week.

The goal Sunday is to have a plan that fits Winston much better. New York installed more than 300 plays this offseason, and Sunday's Winston-inspired version will be a different menu of plays.

Roughly 20% of New York's offense went out the window with Dart's season-ending injury, but Winston also brings a different skill set that the Giants will adjust to and build around.

With a backup quarterback and wind and rain expected Sunday at the Meadowlands, the hope is that Winston can distribute the ball and utilize a power run game led by Cam Skattebo .

_Originally reported by [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50037942/giants-set-gameplan-jameis-winston-mull-options-add-qb)._