J.J. McCarthy Injury: What Is Known About His Hip and Thursday Status? (Nov. 9, 2026)

Information checked: Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, 8:07 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−05:00) / 13:07 UTC. New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy sustained a reported hip injury during the team’s Week 9 game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. He left for evaluation, returned later in the third quarter and finished the 19–11 Giants win. As of this check, the Giants have not announced a more specific diagnosis or published an official game-status designation for Thursday’s matchup with Washington.

The clearest answer is that the injury was identified by the team as a hip injury, and McCarthy was able to return after the club’s medical staff evaluated him. His postgame comment that he felt good is encouraging context, but it is not a medical diagnosis or confirmation that he will start Thursday. The next update to watch is the Giants’ practice and injury reporting during a short week.

Highlights

• The Giants said McCarthy injured his hip after a three-yard run and a hit with 12:02 left in the third quarter.
• He was initially listed as questionable to return, went to the locker room for evaluation and returned on New York’s next possession.
• McCarthy and coach John Harbaugh said the trainers and doctors cleared him to return; no specific structural diagnosis was disclosed in the team’s reports reviewed.
• The Giants are scheduled to host Washington on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8:15 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00), leaving a short turnaround for a more informative status update.

What happened to J.J. McCarthy against the Eagles?

The injury occurred in the second half of the Giants’ Week 9 game in Philadelphia. The team’s initial in-game report identified a hip injury after Eagles linebacker Zack Baun hit McCarthy following a three-yard run. The play came with 12:02 remaining in the third quarter, according to the Giants’ injury update. The Giants’ published schedule lists the game at Lincoln Financial Field, with a scheduled 1:00 p.m. Philadelphia time kickoff on Nov. 8. Philadelphia was on Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−05:00) that date; the team has not published an exact wall-clock time for the injury itself.

McCarthy went to the locker room for further evaluation while backup Jameis Winston took over. The team initially listed McCarthy as questionable to return. Winston completed six of eight passes for 71 yards and threw the Giants’ first touchdown of the game, a pass to tight end Isaiah Likely that put New York ahead 13–8 late in the third quarter. McCarthy then returned for the Giants’ next possession.

The official Giants player log records McCarthy finishing 12 of 19 for 127 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, plus four rushes for 22 yards. The fact that he returned and completed the game is confirmed; it does not, by itself, establish that the hip was fully recovered.

What have McCarthy and the Giants said about the injury?

In the team’s postgame transcript, McCarthy said his hip was “feeling good” and credited the training staff for helping him return. He also described the hit as the result of a quarterback run and said he tried to lower his shoulder. Those comments are the player’s account of how he felt after the game, not a clinical assessment. The transcript does not report an imaging result, a diagnosis such as a strain or contusion, or a recovery timetable.

Coach John Harbaugh said the Giants discussed whether to keep Winston in the game. He said the trainers and doctors considered McCarthy good to return, and McCarthy told the team he was ready. McCarthy also acknowledged feeling effects from the hit during a later run. These details come from the Giants’ postgame transcript. They explain why he re-entered Sunday; they do not tell readers what his examination showed or guarantee his availability four days later.

Will J.J. McCarthy play Thursday against Washington?

That has not been confirmed in the Giants sources reviewed by 8:07 a.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 9. The team’s official schedule lists the Week 10 home game against the Washington Commanders for Thursday, Nov. 12, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. EST (UTC−05:00; 01:15 UTC on Friday, Nov. 13). The schedule confirms the date and venue, not McCarthy’s availability.

Because this is a short week, the most useful indicators will be his participation in practice, any subsequent team injury report and the club’s pregame designation. Until those are published, “felt good after the game” should not be translated into “cleared for Thursday.” If McCarthy cannot play, Winston is the quarterback who stepped in against Philadelphia, but the Giants have not announced a starter for the Washington game in the material cited here.

What remains unknown about McCarthy’s hip?

The public team reporting reviewed identifies the injury only as a hip injury. It does not specify the affected structure, severity, treatment plan or expected recovery time. No confirmation of an MRI, fracture, muscle strain or other specific condition appears in the cited Giants update or transcript. Those labels should not be inferred from the play, his return, or the fact that he was evaluated in the locker room.

There is also a difference between being cleared to re-enter one game and being ready for a full workload in the next one. That distinction is especially relevant with Thursday’s quick turnaround. The available facts support cautious monitoring, not a prediction about whether he will be active. A later practice report or direct team statement could change the picture; until then, his status remains unresolved.

FAQ: J.J. McCarthy’s injury

What injury did J.J. McCarthy suffer?

The Giants identified it as a hip injury. The team has not disclosed a more specific diagnosis in the reports cited here.

Did McCarthy return to the game?

Yes. After evaluation, he returned on New York’s next possession and finished the Giants’ 19–11 win over Philadelphia.

Is McCarthy confirmed to play Thursday?

No. The Giants’ schedule lists a Thursday game against Washington, but the sources reviewed as of Monday morning do not confirm McCarthy’s availability or starting status.