Another Young Viking Utterly Balled Out, Too
Minnesota Vikings fans fell in love with J.J. McCarthy on Monday night — rightfully so after the 22-year-old levitated to guide his team toward a 27-24 dub at Soldier Field.
Another young Viking utterly balled out, stepping into the spotlight with a performance that turned heads. Here’s the skinny after Week 1.
McCarthy’s heroism will live indefinitely, but don’t forget about rookie offensive guard Donovan Jackson. His Week 1 performance was utterly stellar, particularly for a rookie in his first game.
Another Young Viking Breaks Out
Jackson showed why he was a 1st-Rounder on Monday night.
Donovan Jackson Seizes the Day in Debut
Jackson dominated the Bears in his NFL debut, and there’s just no other way around it.
NFL Draft Files tweeted after the Vikings win:
Donovan Jackson in his NFL debut:
— 88.1 pass blocking grade
— 0 sacks allowed
— 0 pressures allowed
— 100% pass blocking efficiency
Jackson played from cover to cover on Monday and logged a 74.3 Pro Football Focus grade on the night. Absolutely phenomenal for a maiden voyage, especially on the road at Soldier Field.
Encouraging Sign for the Rookie
The Bears don’t employ a totally elite defensive line, but the unit also isn’t a pushover. Jackson could’ve played mediocre in Week 1, and few would’ve batted an eye.
During training camp and the preseason, the young lineman showcased a mixed bag, getting beaten from time to time while dishing out some bullying here and there. At Soldier Field, Jackson encountered virtually no struggles and served up the imperium, especially via pass protection.
J.J. McCarthy Cooks when OL Steps Up
Listen, McCarthy’s debut looked like rubbish for the first two hours of real time. Just awful. Head coach Kevin O’Connell insisted on a conservative offense, and when he attempted to open up the playcalling just a bit, the offensive line didn’t necessarily shine out of the gate.
However, when crunchtime hit, the trenches coagulated and allowed McCarthy time to cook, which is precisely what he did — and how Minnesota orchestrated the memorable comeback.
A GM Needing Vindication
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has taken a lot of heat in the last three years for totally bungling his inaugural draft class, missing on Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Ed Ingram, and Brian Asamoah. And that criticism is fair.
But on Monday, with McCarthy setting the world on fire, Dallas Turner turning heads on defense, and Jackson’s masterclass, the young executive might’ve turned the corner in the court of public opinion.
Of course, most of Adofo-Mensah’s legacy will rest with McCarthy, but on the whole, his recent draft picks, including Jordan Addison, have begun to stand off the page.
Ted Schwerzler on Jackson
Our Ted Schwerzler wrote about Jackson on Tuesday: ‘That brings us to left guard Donovan Jackson, who made the first start of his NFL career. But unlike Turner, McCarthy and 2025 Jordan Addison, we didn’t have to wait to see the positive results of Minnesota’s most recent first round draft pick.”
“Because on Monday Night Football, with the whole world watching, Jackson balled out. And he did it without his future partner in crime on the left side, All-Pro caliber Christian Darrisaw, who the Vikings decided to hold out of week one, as he continues his comeback from season-ending knee surgery last year.”
Jackson’s life will only improve when Darrisaw returns to the lineup, which should occur any day.
“Out of Ohio State, Donovan Jackson came in, on paper, as the final piece of a newly-overhauled interior offensive line. As a rookie first round pick, Jackson’s upside represents that of an extremely underpriced mauler who, by the time they develop over the next three to four years, will mold into one of the best guards in football,” Schwerzler continued.
“But saying it, or writing down a draft pick on a piece of paper, is not the same as the unpredictable reality of transitioning a young adult from playing the game he’s used as an outlet his whole life, and making it into his job.”
Minnesota is widely overdue to hit on an organically drafted offensive guard. Early signs indicate Jackson could be the guy.
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