There’s a Bizarre J.J. McCarthy Controversy
The Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, nominating the young passer as the franchise’s quarterback of the future.
There’s a Bizarre J.J. McCarthy Controversy
Four months later, McCarthy tore his meniscus in his first-ever preseason game, ending his maiden voyage season and thrusting Sam Darnold into action. Vikings fans grimaced and rolled their eyes while Darnold went on to construct an MVP-level season that resulted in a one-and-done playoff berth.
Fast-forward to the 2025 offseason, and McCarthy is on track to lead Minnesota as QB1 next season, but there’s a bizarre new controversy attached to his recovery prognosis — his weight.
Like most athletes recovering from a season-ending injury, McCarthy is down about 20 pounds from his playing weight, outlined by ESPN last weekend. Kevin Seifert explained, “Listed at 219 pounds at the start of training camp, McCarthy dropped more than 20 pounds this fall, following a pattern familiar for many football players who put strength workouts on hold during the rehabilitation process. McCarthy has plenty of time to regain the weight before OTA practices this spring.”
The phenomenon is not uncommon whatsoever.
“But his appearance was a visual symbol of the neutral terms Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell used last week in discussing his immediate future,” Seifert added.
Social media users flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook after the ESPN publication, a bit anxietal about McCarthy’s weight. X user @NameLotsofNmbrs tweeted, “Dropping more than 20 pounds after a meniscus surgery is concerning. That doesn’t even make sense. I had 2 ACLs in my career and never lost more than 10. I know everyone is different, but did he do literally nothing while healing?”
Brad Braun commented, “This is so obvious. Resign Jones to a 1-2 yr contact…he can develop and mentor JJ as the starter and be a serviceable (maybe more) backup. Tag and trade Sam to get picks for this year. Off and running with JJ. Done.”
No panic should be extracted from Seifert’s observation. McCarthy can rather easily ramp up to his playing weight before the spring and summer. This is how it goes.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke positively about McCarthy’s injury recovery two days after Minnesota lost in the postseason, indicating the young passer had encountered no major hiccups. “He’s on the field, throwing and training. He looks great. He’s excited. You talk about a kid who’s just obsessed with football and loves being around the game. So, we’re excited about what we have in him. We’re excited for this offseason for him. It’s a big offseason. And then, we’ll continue from there,” Adofo-Mensah said.
“But I can’t sit here and tell you I know anything for certain. I know that I’m willing to believe in the person that we have. That position is about talent and preparation — and he’s got those things in spades. So, if that’s the course of action we decide, we’ll go in there confidently,” he added.
McCarthy’s weight will be just fine. Dropping 20 pounds during a season-long injury recovery is not abnormal.
The rookie passer turned 22 last week.
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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 Vikings 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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