Can J.J. McCarthy Find His Best Option on Sunday?
The Minnesota Vikings have been a massive disappointment this season. At 6-8, they are now eliminated from playoff contention, and their final three games represent little more than an opportunity to observe the continued development of quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
With Minnesota eliminated, the final games are less about wins and losses and more about whether J.J. McCarthy shows tangible growth, especially in how he connects with Justin Jefferson.
It was the lack of readiness and development that put McCarthy and the Vikings in this position in the first place. He has trended upwards in the last two contests, but he has still been unable to figure out how Justin Jefferson should get the ball.
Sunday Is About Evaluating J.J. McCarthy, Not the Score
During their time together this season, Jefferson and McCarthy have combined to average less than 50 yards per game when both are playing. The quarterback has all but cost the wide receiver his all-time yards-per-game average, and there have been very few positive performances.
An 81-yard game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 was the most McCarthy has connected with Justin Jefferson for in a game. Carson Wentz dialed up 126 and 123-yard performances for his star wideout this season, but the Vikings’ starting quarterback hasn’t been able to get it going.
Needing 168 yards to chalk up another 1,000-yard season, Jefferson needs some serious help. In his last two games with McCarthy, the wide receiver has gone for just 11 and 22 yards, respectively. It would be asinine to see Jefferson not achieve a 1,000-yard year when he has been fully healthy, but it will also require a step forward to get there.
Kevin O’Connell didn’t play the starting tandem together in the postseason, and he didn’t force McCarthy into any real run at all. The duo was not on the field together during training camp due to Jefferson’s injury, and their chemistry looked no better.
Unfortunately, this season, Jefferson has shown the worst of himself from an athletic standpoint. There have been drops and disinterest that have only compounded McCarthy’s ineptitude. Last weekend, eight targets resulted in just two receptions, and missed opportunities can’t continue to be a thing.
It’s a positive to see McCarthy take a step forward, but unless he’s doing it with Jefferson, too, then it holds less weight. There’s a chance for that to change against the Giants.
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