The One Main Concern about J.J. McCarthy
Some Minnesota Vikings fans were mystified by J.J. McCarthy’s poor performance in seven of eight quarters during his first two NFL starts.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is navigating a high ankle sprain, and there’s just one concern about him.
The man looked incredibly raw in Weeks 1 and 2, sans a fantastic 4th Quarter comeback against the Chicago Bears in his first-ever start.
But if anything will derail McCarthy, it’s not suspect play in his first year as the starter — it’s the injury resume this soon in his career.
Injuries Are the Only Outlandish Problem for J.J. McCarthy Right Now
The man needs to find a way to be present on Sundays, no matter what.
Raw or Bad Performance Is Not J.J. McCarthy’s Problem
McCarthy was virtually guaranteed to encounter choppy waters as a first-year starter. It’s just how quarterback development goes.
Some held out hope that McCarthy would play as well as Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders last year or Justin Herbert in Los Angeles five years ago. That has not happened. The man’s maturation won’t follow a straight line; instead, it will likely be marked by ups and downs, peaks and valleys — much like his inconsistent performance in seven quarters, punctuated by the 4th Quarter comeback in Chicago.
This is all to be expected. McCarthy’s problem is not a herky-jerky presentation and bobbled snaps.
It’s the Injuries That Are Concerning
On the other hand, injuries, in theory, could be McCarthy’s undoing if they don’t cease.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky mentioned this week, “It’s concerning. He’s missed 18 games and played in two; at some point, young quarterbacks need to get on the field. This is an organization and a team that’s very good. They have entrusted the future of the team in his hands.”
“He needs to be on the field to feel the speed of the pass rush, to feel the speed about passing windows in the NFL closing faster than college. Not going to overreact and hopefully this is a short-term thing, but the fact that he’s missed 18 games and played in two, that has to be concerning in the building.”
It’s the “can’t make the club in the tub” adage — but supersized because McCarthy is the Vikings’ one big hope for the future.
Bumpy performance can be rectified, especially by the “quarterback whisperer” head coach. Injuries aren’t coachable.
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The odds suggest that McCarthy will develop into an at-least-average quarterback. He won’t play as dreadfully as he did in Week 2 — during the 2027 season.
But the injury fear is real. It’s not a good omen that McCarthy keeps finding ways to live on the outside of Minnesota’s lineup. He received grace when the meniscus tear happened in the summer of 2024 — and rightfully so.
And the man still deserves leeway for the ankle sprain — it could happen to anybody. However, if the Vikings reach November and December and McCarthy suffers a new injury, the pattern would become a trend.
And yes, some athletes are totally undone by injuries alone. See: Greg Oden in the NBA 15-20 years ago.
McCarthy Needs an Injury-Free Rest of 2025
How can McCarthy beat the allegations? Easy — return sometime soon from the high ankle spring and play semi-competently for the rest of 2025. Again, McCarthy doesn’t need to play like a Pro Bowler, but he can’t appear as someone who never improves.
He must also stay upright. That’s the critical part. The Vikings can’t handle their quarterback of the future on the sidelines at all times. It just won’t work.
Another long-term injury would force Minnesota to explore Max Brosmer’s ceiling or investigate the 2026 NFL Draft for quarterbacks. Indeed, that would be a possibility if McCarthy injured something else in the next few months.
Urban Meyer on McCarthy
Longtime college coach Urban Meyer weighed in on McCarthy this week while speaking to Fox Sports‘ Colin Cowherd.
He said, “I never heard him complain. He’s a national champion, so I have a lot of respect for him. But of course it was going to be bumpy. There’s no doubt that it was going to be, and I think he’s still going to be fine.”
“I question this: Is he that franchise guy that can go win a bunch of games as the quarterback? That still remains to be seen. I think he’s a hell of a player, but that’s a big task. I agreed with you that he never had to win a game. Every game that we covered at Big Noon, and I was a big fan of his, I think he manages the game.”
McCarthy, of course, will have plenty of time to answer Meyers’ and others’ questions — when he’s on the field and healthy.
Meyer added, “I thought any time you have a guy that can get you out of trouble with his legs, which he can… I never heard him complain. I was at the game against Penn State, where they ran the ball 32 straight times. And they didn’t, here’s the thing about that game, they ran the ball 32 straight times yet punted.”
“It wasn’t like they were blowing them off the ball, they punted two or three times. They were just trying to kill the game, so that tells me they don’t have a lot of confidence in throwing the ball right now.”
The Vikings should have a clearer update on McCarthy’s injury status by the middle of next week.
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