The Minnesota Vikings are entering the J.J. McCarthy era. Although McCarthy is in his second year in the NFL, he missed all of last season due to injury, making this feel more like his rookie year from an experience standpoint. He’s set to start in the Vikings’ preseason opener.
“Nearly one year to the day since he suffered a torn meniscus in his Minnesota Vikings preseason debut, J.J. McCarthy will return to game action, with coach Kevin O’Connell announcing his new starting quarterback will indeed play in the team’s preseason opener Saturday against the Houston Texans,” CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles wrote.
Despite some struggles during training camp, McCarthy is showing a willingness to grow—not just for himself, but for the development of the team’s offensive identity.
“When the periods don’t go your way,” McCarthy said, “you’re always asking why. It’s never a loss, and you’re always learning from it, good or bad, but especially those periods where they really get you. I feel like that’s where we can learn the most about ourselves in our offense and identity.”
For star receiver Justin Jefferson, building trust and confidence with McCarthy is key.
“Our lockers are right next to each other, so every chance that I get to talk to him about football, about anything that goes on outside of football. Just try to get to know him as much as I can because when the season comes and whenever we’re locked in, I want him to be just as confident as I am of him to make the plays out there,” Jefferson said.
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While Vikings fans are hoping for a strong first year from McCarthy, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini offered a much more skeptical take.
“Do I think J.J. McCarthy is wowing everyone at training camp? No, I don’t… [Vikings fans] are going to be disappointed,” Russini said on The Herd.
That’s not an encouraging sign—it casts a shadow of doubt over the Vikings’ quarterback plans. If McCarthy doesn’t pan out, their entire long-term strategy at the position could unravel. However, given that he’s essentially still learning, it’s important for fans to show patience. A rough start shouldn’t cause the Minnesota faithful to abandon ship too soon.
