When the 2025 common season begins, the Minnesota Vikings envision J.J. McCarthy as their QB1.
However as head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned on the NFL’s annual spring assembly on Monday in West Palm Seaside, Fla., that distinguished distinction has but to be earned.
“I really feel actually, actually optimistic concerning the path we’ll take with J.J. from a growth standpoint, from an acceleration of reps,” O’Connell mentioned. “And he will profit from an offseason price of reps from the offseason program to clearly coaching camp and being in a aggressive scenario when our quarterback room is all finalized.”
Even because the Vikings entertained signing free agent Aaron Rodgers, O’Connell was in contact with McCarthy in “borderline actual time” to apprise him of any developments. Rodgers, who stays unsigned, has maintained contact with O’Connell since their enjoying days and made the preliminary contact with Minnesota after he was launched by the New York Jets.
O’Connell mentioned the Vikings have excessive expectations for McCarthy however determined, as a franchise, they did not need to withstand vetting Rodgers as an choice to safeguard McCarthy.
“… Aaron Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP and anyone who, not simply myself, however we have all had a lot respect for competing in opposition to him,” O’Connell defined. “And he occurred to be at a time limit in his profession the place he was free to have some actual dialogue about what his future could appear to be. And we occurred to be a kind of groups that he reached out to.”
Basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made it clear the popular consequence of the offseason shuffling on the quarterback place can be McCarthy entering into the beginning function. He was basically an expert redshirt in 2024 after being drafted tenth total due to a post-draft knee surgical procedure, and Sam Darnold went 14-3 to place the Vikings within the NFC playoffs as a wild card.
McCarthy took largely “visible reps” however was in quarterback conferences and game-planning periods to turn out to be intricately accustomed to O’Connell’s communication model, expectations and huge offensive playbook.
“I feel it is a duty for me because the playcaller to ensure I am constructing rapport along with demanding a normal of the place from a really early time right here with J.J. that I feel he will meet, and problem himself to fulfill, each day,” O’Connell mentioned. “Very a lot excited to see him do this.”
–Subject Degree Media