Surprise Guest Could Be at Vikings Rookie Minicamp
Minnesota Vikings’ rookie minicamp gets underway on Friday, the next step in the offseason after a momentous free agency and promising NFL draft.
Surprise Guest Could Be at Vikings Rookie Minicamp
Rookies — drafted and undrafted — are required for attendance, but one surprise guest may be on the docket: second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
McCarthy is fully on deck to assume QB1 responsibilities in 2025 after the Vikings opted not to re-sign Sam Darnold and resisted the urge to take the plunge with Aaron Rodgers.
J.J. McCarthy May Join Rookie Minicamp
Some argue that McCarthy is a rookie as-is.
So, it made sense this week when Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling claimed McCarthy could be present at Vikings rookie minicamp.
Goessling told KFAN Tuesday that he “wouldn’t be shocked” if McCarthy arrived at the event in Eagan.
A Lost Rookie Season
Normally, rookie minicamp is reserved for, well, rookies.
In spirit, McCarthy can be considered a rookie, and if NFL rules allow it, the 22-year-old might appear at rookie minicamp. The Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, their quarterback solution of the future after letting Kirk Cousins depart for the Atlanta Falcons via free agency six weeks prior.
Fans rejoiced at the McCarthy selection, as the youngster had won a National Championship at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh.
Four months later, disaster struck as McCarthy tore his meniscus during a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He bedazzled onlookers with his poise, arm strength, mobility, and accuracy during that exhibition contest — and the Vikings announced a torn meniscus for their 1st-Rounder a few days later. Vintage Vikings happenings.
The injury cancelled McCarthy’s entire rookie campaign, paving the way for Sam Darnold’s reclamation season.
Now, with Darnold vamoosing in free agency for the Seattle Seahawks, McCarthy is ready to take the big job, and showing up at rookie minicamp, if allowed by the league, would be a good look.
McCarthy on His Work Ethic
McCarthy assured reporters that he is ready for the QB1 job in 2025, and explained last week: “I’ve gotta win it myself every single day, win competition with myself. It’s putting your best body of work, my best body of work, out there. It comes with looking myself in the mirror every night. ‘Did I get better?'”
“I’ve got to do everything I can to make sure I’m the best version of myself come game day. Just put out that body of work, they’re going to see on a day-to-day basis. You know, show up. Be consistent, be dependable, be a true pro, and the rest will take care of itself.”
Kevin O’Connell on McCarthy
A few weeks ago, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell peeled back the curtain on McCarthy’s offseason.
O’Connell mentioned, “The big thing is he’s done a phenomenal job with what I would really call invisible habits, invisible work that he’s done when really nobody’s been watching, in many ways, solidifying and finalizing his rehab, then on into a phase where he’s really been able to push it on the field from throws and working his technique and fundamentals. And then ultimately, you know, the mental side of it, as well.”
“He’s always working. And now he gets the ability to from day one, learn everything as we go through our installations multiple times this spring, and just the different checkpoints, I think the spring is set up perfectly for J.J. with where he’s at, from a standpoint of Phase 1 being in a classroom setting, running and lifting and continuing what he’s been able to do while a lot of his teammates haven’t been here.”
Pass Rusher Jonathan Greenard Is Sold
Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard also noticed McCarthy’s sizzle.
He told the media last week: “Seeing J.J. continue to work his tail off, be that same guy as the first day I met him, still checking in on guys, ‘How you doing?’ A lot of people don’t do that. They ask it, but they’re just saying, ‘How you doing?’ to check off a box. I mean, he genuinely wants to know like, ‘Hey, how are you doing? How’s your family doing?’ And that’s what you want out of your quarterback, a younger guy, as well, especially when he has this grand opportunity in front of him.”
“Man, we’re all behind him. We’re all standing 10 toes with J. He’s definitely a likable guy, and you want to see a guy like him succeed. So it makes it easier for us to root him on.”
Roughly 25 rookies will be at Vikings minicamp on Friday after onboarding a draft class of five and approximately 20 undrafted free agents.
McCarthy’s Vikings are expected to win eight or nine games in 2025, according to oddsmakers.
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