Adam Thielen Praises J.J. McCarthy's Deep Ball Ahead of Giants Debut

Adam Thielen, a former teammate of J.J. McCarthy, expressed excitement for the rookie quarterback's upcoming debut with the New York Giants. McCarthy is set to make his first start on Sunday against the Houston Texans, taking over from Jameis Winston, who had been filling in for the injured Jaxson Dart.

Thielen, who played with McCarthy on the Minnesota Vikings last season, highlighted the quarterback's deep ball as a significant asset. "Honestly, I think the best thing he does is the deep ball. He throws the best deep ball that I’ve seen in a long time," Thielen said on SiriusXM. He added that McCarthy possesses "every other tool in his back pocket" and that if he can develop touch and layered passes, similar to those seen from quarterbacks like Brock Purdy, he could become a formidable player.

McCarthy saw his first significant playing time in the Giants' recent loss to the New Orleans Saints. During that game, he completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also added 26 rushing yards on two carries.

Despite the team's loss, Head Coach John Harbaugh commended McCarthy's performance in a difficult situation. "He did a heck of a job given the circumstances and kind of desperation time," Harbaugh stated. "He made some plays and gives us a chance to win the game." He specifically noted McCarthy's ability to deliver the ball into the end zone late in the game.

Thielen also spoke to McCarthy's character, emphasizing his positive impact on teammates. "He’s a gamer. Man, everyone loves him," Thielen said. "Like on the sideline, they’re dapping him up, they’re saying, ‘Man, thanks for the effort.’ 'Cause everyone loves him. Everyone loves being around him. They love his energy, and his attitude, and his mindset." Thielen believes that with the right offensive scheme and development, McCarthy's enthusiasm and skills could make the Giants' offense "really fun to watch."

McCarthy, a national champion with Michigan in 2023, will face a familiar collegiate rival in Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. The two previously competed when McCarthy's Michigan team defeated Stroud's Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022, with McCarthy throwing three touchdown passes in that game. Sunday's matchup will be their first encounter as professional quarterbacks.