J.J. McCarthy Hasn’t Won the Big Job Just Yet
J.J. McCarthy will be the Minnesota Vikings’ starting quarterback in title, reality, and on your television quite soon.
J.J. McCarthy Hasn’t Won the Big Job Just Yet
But he’s not there yet, or at least he hasn’t been told by Vikings leadership of the promotion.
McCarthy spoke with Kay Adams of The Up and Adams Show on Monday and revealed the intriguing tidbit.
In short, the man must earn it.
Not the Starter, Says McCarthy
Adams questioned McCarthy about his reaction to the QB1 title after all Aaron Rodgers smoke blew over last week.
He hadn’t received any marching orders.
“They haven’t told me, and I’m happy they didn’t because I try to earn it every single day. I never want that to be given to me. It’s such a privilege and an opportunity to give me that chance. I’m just gonna make the most of it every single day,” he told Adams.
The remark surprised listeners because, through their actions, Minnesota has very much handed the QB1 scepter to McCarthy. Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Daniel Jones joined new teams this offseason, and Minnesota bowed out of the Rodgers sweepstakes.
McCarthy must earn it, he says.
J.J. McCarthy on His Injury Recovery
Adams asked McCarthy about his recovery progress, and he responded, “Fantastic, yes. Fantastic. I would say I’m 100%. Cheers to that. Staying consistent with the rehab process and not wavering for that and being disciplined with all the outside stuff and making sure I’m not chopping too much wood.”
Onlookers have merely hoped this offseason that McCarthy would encounter no hiccups on his road to 2025, and for the most part, it’s so far, so good.
Adams also asked how the injury affected his mindset, and McCarthy spun the ordeal positively.
“It was the ultimate blessing because it was such a time of stillness where you really got to reflect and introspect and find a routine, especially early on. This career and this profession, it’s huge for young guys to find that habitual routine that they can rely on and stay consistent with. I’d say that was the biggest thing for me,” he said.
No Title — But All Signs Point to McCarthy
McCarthy is absolutely in line to take over QB1 responsibilities with the Vikings this September after a couple of months’ worth of uncertainty — no matter what he told Adams.
Foremost, fans didn’t know if McCarthy would seamlessly recover from the meniscus tear. He did. Then, Sam Darnold’s 2024 performance created questions about a reunion season. But Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago.
The offseason then featured Rodgers hubbub. A small faction of the team’s fans wanted the 41-year-old to lead the Vikings in 2025, and credible reporting suggested the Vikings were Rodgers’ top target. But last week, NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero ended Rodgers-to-Minnesota rumors, leaving McCarthy as the last man standing.
Barring a last-minute change of heart from the front office or a re-injury, McCarthy will ascend to his QB1 throne in 2025. After all, Minnesota drafted him for the task with the 10th overall pick 11 months ago.
It’s McCarthy time.
Fears about Weight = Dead
Earlier in the offseason, some fodder claimed that McCarthy had dropped an alarming weight total during his torn meniscus recovery.
Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora wrote in February, “Sam Darnold’s brutal play in Week 18 and the playoffs had many writing him off in Minnesota. Not so fast. Several executives from QB-needy teams, who would have at least some interest in Darnold, suggested he’s not going anywhere. I hear that J.J. McCarthy, who lost his entire rookie year to injury, still has significant work to do to rebuild his body, let alone adjust to the NFL.”
Naturally, folks used social media to express befuddlement about McCarthy’s weight, deeming it a possible concern.
In November, McCarthy underwent a second procedure on his knee to reduce some swelling, prompting NFL media to call the event “another surgery.” That made McCarthy’s recovery sound like it encountered a setback. In reality, McCarthy is trending to return on a standard meniscus recovery timeline, and the fears of a “second surgery” were also a nothingburger.
In the Adams interview, McCarthy appeared fully back to his playing weight, slapping strange rumors dead in their tracks.
Other QBs behind McCarthy?
Veteran Brett Rypien is the only alternative to McCarthy at quarterback on Minnesota’s depth chart.
Minnesota’s external QB2 options might be down to these men:
- Joe Flacco
- Trey Lance
- Drew Lock
- Ryan Tannehill
- Mike White
In the last week, Tannehill, who didn’t play in the 2024 season, emerged as the Vikings’ QB2 frontrunner. But NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport appeared to refute that sentiment Monday.
Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show Monday, “Pelissero’s right, that it is J.J. McCarthy’s team going forward. He’s going to be the guy in OTAs. He’s going to get the reps.”
“The Tannehill conversations — if there was any conversation, it was more like, ‘Alright, might you theoretically be available if we need you?’ Because Ryan Tannehill sat all last year. I think he would probably come back for an opportunity to start for an awesome team and maybe make some decent bridge quarterback money … maybe 10 or 15 (million), something like that,” Rapoport continued.
“I don’t get the sense that anything’s imminent, and I think the Vikings hope that they don’t need him. Because the hope is, your future is now, roll with J.J. McCarthy, who’s really talented, and just move forward from there.”
McCarthy, though, must win the job through proper channels — earning it this summer.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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