Giants acquire quarterback J.J. McCarthy, place outside linebacker Brian Burns on injured reserve in flurry of roster moves
The New York Giants made a series of roster moves this week. They acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick on Sept. 28. The club placed outside linebacker Brian Burns on injured reserve on Sept. 29, according to the team’s official transactions log. The transactions reflect several late-September changes that affected roster depth.
The Giants logged the trade for McCarthy on Sept. 28 in the transactions. The club waived quarterback Jake Haener on Sept. 28. Haener later appeared on the transaction list with practice squad activity, including a practice-squad exception in late September.
The team placed quarterback Jaxson Dart on injured reserve on Sept. 24. The Giants also placed cornerback Paulson Adebo on injured reserve on Sept. 18. Those moves, along with Burns’ placement, change the team’s depth chart. The club will need to adjust lineups and roles as injuries accumulate.
The transactions document additional roster churn around the active roster and practice squad. The club terminated Odell Beckham Jr.’s contract on Sept. 29 as a vested veteran. The Giants signed defensive lineman Josh Tupou to the practice squad as a veteran on Oct. 1 and signed Jihad Ward from Minnesota’s practice squad on Oct. 1. The club added Kendrick Green to the practice squad as a veteran on Oct. 2 and used multiple standard elevations and practice-squad exceptions for players such as Braxton Berrios and Malik Harrison during September.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Acquiring J.J. McCarthy for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick gives the Giants another option at quarterback and adds depth behind the starter. Placing Brian Burns on injured reserve represents a notable loss and will force the Giants to rely on backups and recent additions. The flurry of practice-squad signings, standard elevations and veteran transactions shows the club responding quickly to early-season injuries and roster needs.