As it turns out, Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season turned out to be a pretty pivotal one for a number of reasons.
It’s incredibly early in the season, but the sample size is enough at this point for some teams to start making major organizational changes (looking at you, Colts and Chargers).
We’ve seen an unexpected resurgence from JJ McCarthy in his most extensive action yet with the New York Giants, as well as some big improvements with both the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams following heartbreaking losses.
Let’s unpack what could be three season-changing developments that went down in NFL Week 6.
4 potential season-changing developments that went down in NFL Week 6
1. JJ McCarthy’s 4th-quarter surge for the New York Giants
As we saw in the 2026 season, the NFC East is one of the most wide open divisions in all of football. The New York Giants are 3-2-1 after losing to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but what we saw from quarterback JJ McCarthy in the 4th quarter of that particular game was remarkable.
McCarthy replaced a struggling Jameis Winston for the Giants, and really came out firing. He started 1-of-4 with an interception, but since then, he’s been completely dialed in. He threw for 243 yards, averaging over 11 yards per completion, and nearly brought the Giants back from a 34-10 deficit in the 4th quarter.
His attempt on Isaiah Probably on the last play of the game was incomplete, but the effort did not go unnoticed.
This is a huge development for many reasons. Of course, the main reason this is notable is because JJ McCarthy may have a little more going for him than the Vikings seem to think. Another reason is that if he can play even close to the level we saw against the Saints on a consistent basis, the Giants could run away with the NFC East in John Harbaugh’s first year at the helm.
We’re not going to get too ahead of ourselves, but that’s certainly not the question at the moment. The upside element is back at the QB position for the Giants right now.
2. Los Angeles Rams loss against the Cardinals and subsequent injuries
When it rains, it pours.
After kicker Harrison Mevis was cut after a disastrous effort Monday night against the Buffalo Bills, the Los Angeles Rams signed Blake Grupe to be their kicker, only to lose him to injury trying to make a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals.
And not only did they lose to Grupe, but they lost the game against the Arizona Cardinals. Ironically, all the points scored by a kicker caused the Rams to fall to 2-4 on the season, and the injury woes continued with Monday’s result.
Star wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a ruptured hamstring and will be out 6-10 weeks. Defensive tackle Poona Ford suffered a ruptured triceps and will miss significant time. The group’s time with the Rams was over before it began. Defensive lineman Kobie Turner is out at least a month with a groin injury.
With the Rams sitting at 2-4, they have no choice but to just keep competing this season…right? Well, they have the Ty Simpson card in their back pocket if they want to play it. The Rams clearly expect that future to come sooner or later, and you can’t help but wonder if they’ll start selling some shares and keep one eye on the future if the losses continue to mount.
3. The Indianapolis Colts blew up against the Titans and fired GM Chris Ballard
After losing to the Tennessee Titans in Week 6, the Indianapolis Colts decided to fire general manager Chris Ballard.
Normally, firing a GM before the trade deadline means a fire sale is imminent, and that’s something we’re keeping a close eye on right now. With that in mind, this is a huge individual loss that could have a ripple effect not just this season but into 2027 as well.
The most significant effect on this season will be the fallout of any trades that end up falling. The Colts don’t have a 1st-round pick in 2027 (Sauce Gardner trade), so they’ll be looking to replenish some NFL Draft capital.
This could mean the end is near for players like DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, and possibly running back Jonathan Taylor. Maybe different. It could also be a prelude to Shane Steichen being fired at the end of the season and the Colts looking for a new GM/head coach/quarterback brain trust.
Starting something new.
There have also been many rumors that Steichen will be sought out again by the Philadelphia Eagles as their OC, perhaps even their head coach after this season.
Keep your eyes focused on what the Colts are up to, as they could be sending quality players to contending teams in the near future.
4. Jalen Hurts went on IR and will likely miss the season
One of the surprising events of the week was the report that came out about Jalen Hurts having a superficial blood clot in his calf. It was later discovered that he also had blood clots in both lungs.
This is a dire situation that clearly needs to be addressed immediately. The Eagles likely won’t get Hurts back this season, even if they make the playoffs, but the expectation is reportedly that he will eventually make a full recovery. That’s a big relief, but his absence this year could also cause Howie Roseman to reset the deck a bit.
The Eagles are rolling with a backup quarterback (Tanner McKee), and they’ve had issues this season beyond the play and health status of Jalen Hurts. Lane Johnson stood up and retired abruptly. Cam Jurgens was traded. Saquon Barkley can’t play, and the run game is non-existent.
The offense isn’t in a good place right now, and there’s a chance we’ll also see the Eagles pull off a few surprise sales this year as they look to 2027.
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