JJ McCarthy's time to make a mark for the Minnesota Vikings is just around the corner. He is among the few candidates who hold the potential for a breakout campaign.
The national media thinks differently.
Colin Cowherd invited The Athletic'sDianna Russini for a conversation on McCarthy's progress in the training camp. Cowherd argued that the Vikings are hiding the fact that the 22-year-old isn't ready for the starting quarterback job.
What I hear about JJ McCarthy isn't what… is sometimes reported. There is almost this protective bubble, or elevation of what he's doing. And it's not what I'm hearing. There are real concerns, from last year on.
The veteran FOX Sports contributor has previously criticized McCarthy, labeling him a 'C' quarterback lacking any distinctive traits that set him apart from his peers. Cowherd wasn't happy after the Vikings let Sam Darnold leave and put their trust in an unproven quarterback who missed his rookie season through injury.
Russini concurred with Cowherd's argument. Her sources have told her that the Vikings have created a protective bubble for McCarthy. She believes it might come back to haunt them later on in the season:
If you follow anything Vikings-related, you would think [JJ McCarthy] is the next biggest quarterback to play. I think they're going to be disappointed because there's going to be a natural period of time where he's got to catch up and feel comfortable in this offense.
Both might be right from their point of view, but one also mustn't forget that it's McCarthy's second year in O'Connell's offense, albeit he will be playing in it for the first time.
There's genuine hype surrounding McCarthy in Minnesota, but the coaching team is also keeping a close eye on his progress.
He's not a finished product, he is far from it. However, barely anyone outside of the people who have seen him train at the Vikings facility possesses knowledge of his strengths and weaknesses. All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson does. He asked the Vikings fans to be patient with McCarthy.
You definitely need to have patience. He's pretty much a rookie… So yes, you have to have that patience. You're not really expecting him to have the same mindset as a veteran. You can't really have that expectation from him.
Darnold's one-year layover in Minnesota increased the expectations of the Vikings fans. The Vikings recorded a 14-3 season to finish second in the NFC North. Darnold threw 35 touchdowns, completed 66.2% of his passes, and posted a passer rating of 102.5.
What most people forget is that before arriving in Minnesota, Darnold was a pariah, bouncing from one team to another. O'Connell helped him deliver the numbers. So, it's safe to assume he can repeat the same with McCarthy.
Even though Vikings fans want to see McCarthy ball out during the 2025 season, as Jefferson mentioned, they must be patient with him early on. It will take time to get used to the pace of the NFL.
Last year, Bo Nix faced a similar situation in Denver. Cowherd wasn't big on Nix either, but he led the Broncos to a 10-win season. A lot of credit should go to the Broncos' defense, which led the league with 3.7 sacks per game.
The Vikings' defense is no slouch either. They ranked sixth with 2.6 sacks per game, with Jonathan Greenard finishing with 12 sacks.
Moreover, the Vikings have a proven running game with Aaron Jones leading the room. O'Connell also signed Jordan Mason, who had 153 carries for 789 yards and three touchdowns at the San Francisco 49ers.
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