J.J. McCarthy Reacts to 'Shock' of Giants Trade in 1st Comments Since Leaving Vikings

New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy was caught off guard by Monday's trade from the Minnesota Vikings.

McCarthy said the trade was a "shock" but that he sees his arrival with the Giants as an "opportunity," per ESPN's Jordan Raanan.

"I didn't anticipate it. But at the end of the day, it's an opportunity. It's an opportunity to take advantage of," McCarthy said, per The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll .

McCarthy continued, per Carroll : "I'm extremely blessed. You know, I'm extremely grateful for all the time in Minnesota. You know, so many great relationships, so many learning lessons and growth. I'm just so fired up to be a New York football Giant."

The Giants traded a fifth-round to the Vikings in order to acquire McCarthy after losing Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury.

McCarthy, who started 10 games for the Vikings last season, had been relegated to a third-string option behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz in Minnesota.

Coach John Harbaugh said last weekend Jameis Winston, who has led the Giants to a 2-1 start to the season, would remain starter for the immediate future.

Harbaugh said Friday the Giants are still working on determining whether McCarthy will serve as a second- or third-string quarterback, per Raanan .

McCarthy joined the Giants for a practice open to media for this first time this Wednesday. He was third in quarterback drills behind Winston and Jake Haener, per Greg Johnson of the Trentonian .

Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Thursday he was impressed with McCarthy's ability to quickly adjust to a new offense.

"You're basically taking all of OTAs just trying to learn the foundation, which guys have done in five or six months, and now taking that into two days," Nagy said. "He's done a great job with it. We're impressed."

As McCarthy continues adjusting to his new team, Winston will remain under center for the Giants when the team kicks off a Week 4 matchup against the visiting Arizona Cardinals this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.