Kevin Seifert
EAGAN, Minn. — It is nearly time for the debut of J.J. McCarthy: Take 2.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback acquired a fast two-game style of the NFL this season earlier than a excessive proper ankle sprain sidelined him for 5 video games. Whereas he was out, a debate raged: Had he been too inexperienced to open the season because the Vikings' starter? Ought to they've re-signed 2024 starter Sam Darnold or late-2024 addition Daniel Jones, or maybe inked free agent Aaron Rodgers?
In any case, McCarthy had produced one magical quarter — accounting for 3 touchdowns in a Week 1 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears — and 7 shaky quarters in his two-game stint. By the tip of it, his 20.3 QBR ranked No. 32 of 33 certified quarterbacks within the NFL.
The workforce appeared to specific its personal doubt, albeit not directly, by making clear he wouldn't return till he was totally wholesome. In essence, coach Kevin O'Connell determined McCarthy wasn't outfitted to compensate for the damage whereas additionally making an attempt to develop in actual time.
McCarthy missed three weeks of apply, started to ramp up through the Vikings' bye after which spent two weeks in purgatory as their emergency No. 3 quarterback — cleared by docs however not but prepared to offer the workforce its finest likelihood to win. That task fell to backup Carson Wentz, who performed his remaining 2 1/2 video games with a left shoulder damage that may require season-ending surgical procedure.
With Wentz on injured reserve, McCarthy will get an opportunity to deal with these debates on the sector. This week, he referred to as the chance “somewhat little bit of a reset, however simply coming from a unique perspective.”
Listed below are 5 information factors that may form his progress — or lack thereof — starting with Sunday's recreation on the Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox).
Staying on the sector
At this level, the one most necessary consider McCarthy's improvement is getting reps, each in apply and video games. The ankle damage, together with a torn meniscus in his proper knee which price him his whole rookie season, have price him 23 of a doable 25 video games, together with postseason. Extremely, he has participated in solely two full weeks of regular-season apply for the reason that Vikings made him the No. 10 decide within the 2024 draft.
McCarthy has 41 passes and 95 offensive snaps on his NFL résumé. The opposite 5 quarterbacks chosen within the first spherical of the 2024 draft have every thrown at the least 300 passes, and their collective common is 625. Spencer Rattler, chosen by the New Orleans Saints within the fifth spherical, has thrown 484 occasions. For the reason that begin of 2024, 62 NFL quarterbacks have thrown extra passes than McCarthy.
To be honest, McCarthy — at 22 years and 9 months — is youthful than all however a type of 62 quarterbacks. The New York Giants' Jaxson Dart is 22 and 5 months.
McCarthy's clock has solely begun to tick. Though it is nearly too apparent to say, it bears repeating: He has to play — lots — to get the place the Vikings hope he can go.
Taking fewer hits
McCarthy will enhance his possibilities of staying on the sector if he can cut back contact with opposing defenders.
Each of his accidents, in Week 2 towards the Atlanta Falcons and through the 2024 preseason towards the Las Vegas Raiders, got here when he left the pocket on a scramble. The Vikings do not need to discourage him from utilizing a key a part of his talent set, however there are many methods — sliding, most notably — to restrict being hit.
McCarthy took 9 sacks in 75 dropbacks throughout his first two begins, a 16.7% sack fee that's increased than all however one quarterback who has taken at the least 10 dropbacks this season (Carolina's Andy Dalton, 17.4%). To be honest, he performed each video games with out left sort out Christian Darrisaw, who was within the remaining levels of restoration from a left knee damage.
General, although, McCarthy absorbed a contact fee of 32.3%, fourth highest within the league. Taking these ranges of hits is not a recipe for longevity.
A favourite for certain.
📺: https://t.co/onuDeV4jF2 pic.twitter.com/1r0qhjiBzN
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 13, 2025
Eliminating the ball
One other method of avoiding hits within the pocket is to throw the ball extra shortly.
In his first two begins, McCarthy averaged 3.15 seconds earlier than throwing, which is longer than all however two quarterbacks who've tried a cross this season. He was not essentially responsible in each occasion, and it must be famous that he performed each video games with out No. 2 huge receiver Jordan Addison, who was serving a three-game NFL suspension, after creating clear chemistry with McCarthy throughout apply.
However in the identical offense, Wentz averaged 2.71 seconds earlier than throwing. McCarthy himself observed the distinction.
“[McCarthy's] made a number of feedback to me simply all through the rehab,” O'Connell mentioned, “about with the ability to watch Carson play the place, play it as a brand new participant in our offense and see methods he was capable of distribute soccer, get the ball out of his palms, completions and the optimistic impact that had on the offense in each capability.”
Accuracy
McCarthy mentioned in coaching camp that he considers himself “some of the correct guys on the market,” however that was not instantly evident this summer season or throughout his two regular-season video games. His 58.5 completion share is the ninth lowest of 58 quarterbacks who've thrown a cross this season.
He wasn't answerable for each incompletion. In reality, ESPN Analysis docked Vikings receivers for 3 drops in his 41 makes an attempt. That is a fee of seven.3%, third highest amongst any quarterback who has thrown a cross this season.
However McCarthy's fee of off-target passes — overthrown or underthrown, not together with apparent throwaways or spikes — is 14.6%. That ranks No. 22 within the NFL.
Vikings coaches consider the problem is essentially certainly one of footwork and different fundamentals, and O'Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown put McCarthy by way of a sequence of exercises through the bye designed to re-establish the timing and rhythm of his drops and progressions.
Vitality
From the second he was drafted, McCarthy's single most evident attribute is his power. Receiver Justin Jefferson has referred to it as a “canine mentality,” a contagious persona trait that demonstrates his competitiveness and relentless positivity. Greg Holcomb, his longtime personal coach, mentioned this summer season of McCarthy: “He is nearly, like, too comfortable generally. It will possibly nearly look obnoxious.”
That power was most evident through the fourth quarter of the Bears recreation in Week 1, and O'Connell referenced it this week, noting McCarthy had carried momentum “into the locker room, the place it was a fairly vital second for a younger participant in his first begin.”
McCarthy might want to keep that trait throughout what might be a tough stretch for your entire workforce. The Vikings have the NFL's most tough remaining schedule, and ESPN's Soccer Energy Index (FPI) has them favored to win another recreation on it — Week 11 towards the Bears.
McCarthy has gained 64 of 68 begins courting again to highschool, and he may match that loss complete even when the Vikings beat the percentages over the subsequent three months.
None of this occurs with out 9️⃣@jjmccarthy09 pic.twitter.com/67sPd0b9r8
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 9, 2025
