With Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones leading their teams to the top of their divisions, the Minnesota Vikings are facing scrutiny for their decision to stand by J.J. McCarthy.
There were bound to be highs and lows with a first-year starter to begin the season, but McCarthy and the Vikings offense failed to score a touchdown in seven of its first eight quarters, including none in a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2.
Since suffering a high ankle sprain in that game, McCarthy’s development has been deferred. Carson Wentz has gone 2-1 and has the offense running efficiently with McCarthy sidelined, but the Vikings appear prepared to hand the reins back over to the 22-year-old quarterback.
In a recent podcast appearance, Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard was transparent about how McCarthy and the offense looked “terrible” in the Falcons game, as well as his feelings on moving on from Darnold, who won 14 games for the Vikings last season.
Vikings Jonathan Greenard Gets Honest About ‘Terrible’ Falcons Game From JJ McCarthy and Offense
GettyJonathan Greenard #58 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Los Angeles Rams.
Appearing on the “Flag On The Play” podcast, Greenard addressed McCarthy’s “terrible” start to the season, attributing some blame to the offense’s lack of execution as a whole.
“He got a small sample size to really judge off of,” Greenard said. “I think J.J., honestly, with the staff that we got with Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown being there, Wes Phillips, them dialing it up, it’s nearly impossible (to fail). You mentioned Sam as well. Sam did a helluva job in this same system; it’s just a matter of J.J. just gotta get more comfortable and get these reps. Sam could come into it way differently being my age and multiple years in the league and hurt, different systems and knowing how to put two and two together. J.J. was still figuring it out.
“Obviously, y’all seen what he can do in the Chicago game, and then he comes back and that Atlanta game was terrible,” Greenard added. “But if you look at that, it’s a matter of a mix-up of miscommunication. You see sometimes he’s getting sacked when nobody’s even touching the guys. I know the offense. I know literally what we’re supposed to be doing, and it’s just literally a lack of communication. It can’t happen. Makes it look terrible.”
Vikings Closer to Full Health With McCarthy Approaching Return From Injury
Entering Week 7 with a 3-2 record, the Vikings have yet to realize their identity as a contender in the NFC.
That’s been largely due to injuries and inavailability as the Vikings started the season shorthanded.
McCarthy was done no favors with Christian Darrisaw and Jordan Addison both inactive in his only two starts. The Vikings offensive line was also ravaged by injuries through the first five games of the season, trotting out 14 different line combinations, according to Kevin O’Connell.
McCarthy appears poised to return to action this week if he is a full participant in practice.
“I think J.J., he’ll probably be back this week or something like that. I think he will. But, for the most part, everybody else is just coming back,” Greenard said, referring to the other injuries impacting the Vikings. “We just gelling that thing together.”
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