Vikings Fans Expect to See Golden Boy Early and Often
Will he or won’t he? That’s one of the looming questions for the Minnesota Vikings’ summer regarding quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Over 87% of Vikings fans believe J.J. McCarthy should take the reins in August, a lingering question about head coach Kevin O’Connell’s strategy.
McCarthy tore his meniscus last summer in his first-ever preseason game, an incident that ended his whole rookie season.
And with the preseason about four weeks away, fans wonder if McCarthy, now promoted to QB1, will play at all in the exhibition games.
Fans predict yes.
J.J. McCarthy + Preseason = What Gives?
Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings don’t usually use starters in August.
Fans Predict J.J. McCarthy Will Play in the Preseason
We asked Vikings fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, to predict whether McCarthy would see the field in the preseason.
Their answer? A resounding yes.
Over 87% of respondents forecasted McCarthy to play in August, indicating an overwhelming response rate.
Our own Tony Schultz commented, “A series of 3 would be good to lock down the chemistry. They can’t worry about injuries because they can happen to anyone at any time. If he gets injured in the 1st game, folks will complain it’s because he didn’t take preseason reps to get in the flow.”
@FBAnalysisTY opined, “I’d like to see a few drives, yes. Just to get in the flow. Even if it’s a few runs and a few play action passes to Gavin Bartholomew in the flat – I want the game reps.”
Tyler Ireland of Zone Coverage, on the other hand, advised against it. “I hope not. He has nothing to prove, he’s gonna be our Day 1 starter and I don’t want any more injury shenanigans,” Ireland wrote.
Starters … Usually Don’t Play with O’Connell in Charge
Ordinarily — a talker that may apply next summer — McCarthy, as the unabashed QB1, would not play at all. Kirk Cousins did not with Kevin O’Connell in charge.
Sam Darnold saw a teensy bit of action in 2024 because of his newcomer status. All existing veterans, like Harrison Smith, for example, don’t play in the preseason with O’Connell at the helm.
Hence the debate.
Preseason as the Scene of the Crime Last Year
McCarthy bedazzled Vikings fans for about 45 minutes of real-life time last August, showcasing the necessary exhibition tools that seemed likely to translate to the regular season. He showed pocket mobility, passing accuracy, arm strength, and the oomph to shake off a clumsy interception.
Two days later, he revealed a torn meniscus, a serious buzzkill to everything about Minnesota’s 2024 offseason.
Hence the debate about whether it’s worth it for him to play in the same game(s) this go-round. What if he gets hurt again?
McCarthy Needs Experience Nevertheless
McCarthy will probably play, and fans will have nailed the prediction in hindsight.
The man needs live game reps, and the preseason will be a perfect forum for what he’ll experience at Soldier Field in Week 1. The injury fears won’t go away as folks watch the preseason games, but at some point, McCarthy just has to jump into the fire.
Even if it’s just a drive or two.
Janik Eckardt Promotes McCarthy’s Youth
Over at our affiliate site, PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckardt recently wrote about McCarthy, “McCarthy has the advantage that he entered the draft at the age of 21. In fact, he played in January’s national title game at the age of 20 and turned 21 years old on January 20 last year. He’s exactly 22 years and 163 days old. Saints rookie Tyler Shough will turn 26 in September, first overall pick Cam Ward just turned 23, and fellow sophomore Bo Nix is 25.”
“There’s no doubt about it, injuries are never a ‘good’ thing, but because of his young age, it might not have been as devastating as it could’ve been. The former Michigan passer has all the time in the world to develop and grow into the best version of himself, and his torn meniscus just paused his career, rather than derail it.”
Barring injury to a different NFL quarterback this summer, McCarthy will be the NFL’s youngest starting quarterback in 2025.
Eckardt continued, “In Week 1, McCarthy will face the division rivals Chicago Bears and their potential franchise quarterback Caleb Williams. Last year’s first overall pick has gained some NFL experience in his rookie season, but he’s also about 14 months older. When the bullets start flying, McCarthy will have the benefit of playing in unusually good surroundings.”
“Most young signal-callers enter flawed offenses or have shaky coaching staffs. McCarthy, however, will be guided by Coach of the Year O’Connell and long-time NFL QB Josh McCown. The offensive line looks like an elite unit on paper, and the receivers are traditionally excellent in the Twin Cities.”
Fans will get a preseason verdict on McCarthy in about one month, and it’s likely a safe bet to assume he’ll play, at least a little bit.
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