The first glimpse of J.J. McCarthy in Giants uniform

Wednesday’s Giants practice brought the first glimpses of new addition J.J.McCarthy in a Giants uniform.McCarthy was in a red No.

18 jersey and donned the Giants’ legacy helmet, which the team will wear at MetLife Stadium on on Sunday against the Cardinals as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Super Bowl squad.Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

McCarthy wore No.9 as a Minnesota Viking, but had to change his number upon arriving in East Rutherford.

Tight end Isaiah Likely wears No.9 for the Giants.

No.18 was one of few double-digit numbers that was still available since many were retired or claimed.McCarthy was traded to the Giants for a 2027 fifth-round pick on Monday after starting quarterback Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury in the Giants’ “Monday Night Football” loss to the Rams on Sept.

21.In the days after Dart’s injury, head coach John Harbaugh said “all options are open” for the Giants’ plan under center for the rest of the season.Jameis Winston started the Giants’ Week 3 win over the Titans, and Harbaugh said postgame Sunday that Winston will also start Week 4 against the Cardinals.

Depending on Winston’s performance Sunday, Giants fans might become familiar with McCarthy sooner rather than later.McCarthy was selected No.10 overall by the Vikings in the 2024 draft out of Michigan.

He led the Wolverines to a perfect 15-0 record and the national championship in the 2023 season under John Harbaugh’s brother Jim, then Michigan’s head coach.But he missed his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus and struggled in 10 starts in 2025 before losing the Vikings starting job to Kyler Murray this year....