Vikings Guard Will Fries Pounds the Table for His Teammate
Minnesota Vikings fans will debate quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s role for 2026 in the next couple of months, but according to McCarthy’s offensive lineman teammate Will Fries, there isn’t much mystery. He’s all-in on McCarthy.
Fries’ public shoutout puts real weight behind McCarthy’s QB1 push, as Minnesota’s leadership approaches a pressure-packed 2026 offseason.
Fries went to bat for McCarthy this week, telling reporters that McCarthy has the moxie for the QB1 job, a notable endorsement amid an eventful offseason on the way.
Will Fries Adds Public Muscle behind J.J. McCarthy
Fries lets everyone know that McCarthy has “it.”
Fries on McCarthy
Count Fries in as a McCarthy guy. He told ESPN this week, “I absolutely love playing with J.J. What a tremendous leader he is for how young he is. He’s got a lot of moxie and swagger to him. Like anyone, he is going to continue to get better. But man, he is so much fun to play with.”
“Every time he goes out and gets that look in his eye in the huddle, you know at any moment he is going to catch fire and do something big. I’m excited for his growth, his development and his future. He’s so much fun to play with. I’ll go into battle with him and protect him.”
That leaves nothing to the imagination and sugarcoats less. McCarthy has Fries’ endorsement.
C.J. Ham, Too
A Week 18 video surfaced this week of fullback C.J. Ham encouraging McCarthy, too.
He told his quarterback against the Packers, “You have a bright future, dawg. I loved playing with you, you’re a dawg. I cannot wait to see what you do, bro.”
McCarthy replied, “You have no idea how much that means to me — seriously.”
Ham has been associated with the Vikings since 2016, so he’s been through 10 seasons’ worth of quarterbacks. He wouldn’t hand out praise just because. His endorsement of McCarthy’s face echoes that of Fries.
Our Ted Schwerzler noted on McCarthy’s teammates’ support: “It’s encouraging that the players tasked with protecting McCarthy don’t want to see him taking unnecessary punishment. In his first year as a starter, the former first-round pick went 6-4, completing 57.6% of his passes. He posted an 11-to-12 TD/INT ratio and was often more ineffective than productive.”
“Mechanical issues remain apparent, and the Vikings appear determined to make changes to their process heading into next season. Still, if McCarthy is going to emerge as the long-term answer at quarterback, support from his teammates will be crucial.”
Don’t Forget about Brian O’Neill
O’Neill joined the Vikings’ roster two years after Ham, a 2nd-Round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft by former general manager Rick Spielman. O’Neill is also all smiles on McCarthy.
“I love that kid. I’m excited to see his development and growth go forward,” O’Neill told ESPN.
McCarthy has clearly done something to win the hearts of his offensive linemen, even if Vikings fans are currently curious if McCarthy will make it to Week 1 of 2026 as the unabashed QB1. The 22-year-old featured ups and downs in 2025, his first as a starter, and missed seven games due to various injuries — after missing his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus.
Per his teammates, though, Minnesota seems to have its quarterback of the future, with multiple veterans endorsing the youngster this week.
Will McCarthy Get the Undisputed QB1 Title in 2026?
Two months ago, J.J. McCarthy’s biggest problem wasn’t availability; his performance disappointed onlookers. He returned from a high ankle sprain, flashed briefly against Detroit, then unraveled over the next stretch before a concussion sidelined him in Seattle. Momentum never had time to take hold.
When McCarthy came back, he delivered his sharpest performance of the season against Washington and Dallas — two terrible defenses. But that window closed quickly. A hand injury against the Giants followed, adding another interruption to a year that never stabilized.
Torn meniscus. High ankle sprain. Concussion. Hairline fracture. Durability has become part of the experience, whether it’s McCarthy’s recklessness or just bad luck. The league doesn’t care about the how of injuries; availability is paramount.
And that context matters even more for the people making decisions. Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell enter 2026 in Year 5 with two playoff appearances, zero postseason wins, and mounting pressure. The runway is disappearing. If the 2026 campaign doesn’t move the franchise forward in a meaningful way, Black Monday could be applicable to the Vikings a year from now.
To hedge the McCarthy bet, Minnesota could sign a free agent like Malik Willis or even Aaron Rodgers. Via trade, men like Mac Jones or Kyler Murray might make sense. The club could also trade for an “upside” guy like Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, or Spencer Rattler, to name a few.
But the way Fries, Ham, and O’Neill make it sound, Minnesota should be just fine as-is with McCarthy at the helm.
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