Wednesday brought a quarterback change in New York and a pair of offensive stars returned to practice as the teams around the championship ramp up for Week 7.
JJ McCarthy will start for the Giants against the Texans after Jameis Winston was benched in Sunday’s loss to the Saints. Lamar Jackson got limited work for the Ravens while trying to work his way back from an ankle injury, and Josh Jacobs returned to practice for the Packers after being released following an NFL investigation.
Here are the latest from around the NFL on Wednesday.
John Harbaugh will go with JJ McCarthy at quarterback for the Giants’ Week 7 road game against the Texans on Sunday, coach John Harbaugh announced.
McCarthy, acquired by the Vikings last month for a fifth-round pick in 2027, replaced Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Saints after Winston threw two interceptions. He finished with 243 yards, one touchdown, one interception and 26 rushing yards.
Winston had started four of the last five games following Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury, totaling 957 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. New York is 2-1-1 in its opener and leads the NFC East at 3-2-1.
McCarthy has a history with the Harbaugh family, having played for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and winning the 2023 national title. 10 in 2024, he missed that season with a torn meniscus and started 10 games for Minnesota in 2025.
Josh Jacobs is back on the field for Green Bay and is expected to play this week, according to NFL Network. Jacobs has been on the commissioner’s exempt list because of a misdemeanor battery charge in May. Jones was convicted of battery and fined $1,000 and agreed to a deferred adjudication deal on one count of property damage after pleading no contest in September.
Jacobs had his first media availability of the season and opened it with an apology.
“I’m sorry I put this team in this situation. Jacobs said. “Sometimes, when you go through life, situations happen. A 4-second, 3-second decision can change your life.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur also addressed Jacobs’ return on Wednesday.
“I think a lot of times you’re in a situation where you might not make the right decision. I think people learn from their mistakes. He’s extremely remorseful,” LaFleur said. “I believe he’s a good person. I’ve been around him quite a bit. I believe in second chances.”
Lamar Jackson is finally back on the practice field in some capacity.
Coach Jesse Minter said the quarterback got “limited work” during practice Wednesday, though he called Jackson’s recovery “a day-to-day thing.”
Jackson has missed the last two games since spraining his left ankle in an Oct. 4 win over the Titans.
Tyler Huntley led a comeback win in Atlanta in Week 5 before Baltimore fell 13-10 to the Browns last Sunday. At 4-2, the Ravens host the division rival Bengals this week in a key AFC North matchup.
Minter had said Monday that Jackson could “potentially” practice this week, and Wednesday’s work is the first sign that his return to the lineup could be close.
The Patriots and Bears both have injury concerns heading into Thursday night’s game at Soldier Field.
Chicago ruled out returning Kyle Monangai, who will miss his third straight game with a thumb and foot injury. Linebacker Jack Sanborn is also out with a concussion.
New England ruled out five players: guards Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring) and Ben Brown (knee), and cornerbacks Carlton Davis III (neck), Karon Prunty (hip) and Channing Canada (hamstring).
The Patriots will have receiver AJ Brown, who is off the injury report. Davis will miss his third straight game, and the Patriots haven’t had him and Christian Gonzalez on the field since Week 3.