For J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings’ preseason opener will be a full-circle moment, even though he will face the Houston Texans rather than the Las Vegas Raiders.
Last time McCarthy was on the field in a game for the Vikings, he helped lead a winning effort over the Raiders in the 2024 preseason opener. McCarthy tore his meniscus in that game and missed the regular season.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell made it official that McCarthy will play on Saturday, though.
“We’ve got that plan in place. I have not talked to him about it. We’re so day-to-day right now. So, I’ll update him on that plan first and then let you guys know. But yeah, I do plan on playing J.J. Saturday,” O’Connell told reporters on August 4.
“I think you’d love to play him as much as possible. But I think with those two days of joint practice, the type of repetition that the other guys on the offense will get from a physicality and workload standpoint, we’ll more than likely use those two days as our ‘real days.’ Obviously, subject to change based upon how those practices go, how we feel coming out of those. If we need to get a little more work, we will. And then, we’ll assess that final preseason game when it comes.”
McCarthy had two procedures on his knee, first to repair it, then to address swelling during rehab, and he overcame weight loss that also resulted from being injured.
McCarthy’s progress during the Vikings’ training camp has also been a source of intrigue.
J.J. McCarthy Battling Familiar Issue in Vikings Training Camp
GettyJ.J. McCarthy will receive every opportunity to prove himself during the Vikings’ offseason program.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, McCarthy is still a “fastball” QB, which has been an issue for the 2024 No. 10 overall pick. That has only continued as the Vikings have gone from shorts and t-shirts to practicing in pads.
Even though the Vikings provided McCarthy with plenty of innovative ways to keep him as up to speed as possible, he has taken his lumps.
“There is no substitute for time on the field, and McCarthy’s uneven start to training camp has required more patience than some might have expected,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote on August 2. “Once the pads came on, … McCarthy and the entire Vikings offense have struggled to move the ball.”
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis offered a similar review, noting McCarthy improved.
“O’Connell and the Vikings’ offensive staff know there’s a push-pull here, too. They want to rein McCarthy in a bit to prevent him from turning the football over come September. But they also know his athleticism and competitiveness are hallmarks of his previous success. Threading that needle is one of the developmental challenges,” Lewis wrote on August 4.
“McCarthy missed a few layup throws in the red zone last week. But for the most part — and most importantly — McCarthy has kept the ball out of harm’s way, even when the pocket has been constricted. The protection has not been perfect since the team began padded practices, and the quarterback hasn’t turtled. To be more specific, McCarthy’s consistency has been head and shoulders above the other three quarterbacks, and Saturday may have been McCarthy’s best practice since the Vikings put on pads.”
Vikings QB Takes Field For Evening Practice in Front of Fans
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings gestures to the sideline against the Las Vegas Raiders.
McCarthy and the Vikings are practicing in front of fans on Monday evening, giving them a small taste of game atmosphere as he prepares to make his first start since his rookie season before it even truly began.
The Vikings will face the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans to close the preseason.
McCarthy and the Vikings will open the regular season on Monday Night Football on the road against the Chicago Bears.
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