Looks Like the Rookie Had a Big Day
With training camp underway, the Minnesota Vikings have begun their preparation for the regular season that is scheduled to kick off on September 8 with a road game against the New York Giants. The main attractions in camp are, as always, recently-extended superstar Justin Jefferson and the rookies, especially those early drafted.
Looks Like the Rookie Had a Big Day
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis noted after the first day of practice that 17th overall pick Dallas Turner “bounced around mostly with the first-team defense.” That, of course, can partly be attributed to free agent acquisition Andrew Van Ginkel needing a ramp-up period after his lisfranc injury. He subbed in on some snaps. Nevertheless, getting snaps ahead of other backups like Jihad Ward and Patrick Jones is good news.
The other first-rounder, J.J. McCarthy, hasn’t gotten as much run with the first unit as his defensive counterpart. Still, the early results have been mainly positive.
On Thursday, Dane Mizutani from the Pioneer Press tweeted: “J.J. McCarthy is consistently the next quarterback getting work.”
That implies McCarthy is slowly moving up the depth chart and is playing ahead of veteran backup Nick Mullens. Of course, that order could flip on any given day and might be part of the grander plan, but it’s a good sign regardless.
The Vikings have consistently talked about the rookie passer in a way that indicates a mindful approach. McCarthy will not enter the lineup on gameday until he is truly ready. On day two of training camp, however, he pretty much looked like the top-ten pick he is.
Si.com’s Will Ragatz praised the rookie all day, starting with his first throw ‒ a deep pass to WR3 contender Jalen Nailor. He reported on X: “J.J. McCarthy’s first throw of day 2 is a deep ball to Jalen Nailor for a touchdown down the left side. McCarthy was pumped.”
The official team account released the video of that play after practice.
Ragatz went into further detail in his training camp recap: “Sam Darnold is still the Vikings’ clear-cut QB1 right now, but the biggest takeaway from Day 2 of camp at TCO Performance Center was the performance of McCarthy, the highest-drafted quarterback in franchise history. He had an impressive day, making quick decisions and ripping balls with velocity into tight windows.”
Darnold is indeed getting most of the work with the first team, which would be the next hurdle for McCarthy to clear, although he has already accumulated a few occasional plays with the top guys.
Ragatz continued: “By my very unofficial count, McCarthy was 8 for 9 during team periods, with the lone incompletion being a ball that sailed on him to rookie TE Trey Knox. Again, one of those completions easily could’ve been an interception, but McCarthy was very sharp for the most part. He’s got a strong arm, above-average mobility, and looks to be playing with plenty of confidence. Let’s see if he can keep this up.”
McCarthy has some time before the Vikings declare the official Week 1 starter, but his long-term trajectory is much more important, and the decision-makers know that, so they will take it slow.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell used Monday’s presser to update the QB depth chart: “I have no preconceived, preset depth chart in my mind beyond, I believe I said at the end of spring, Sam was the number one quarterback. Sam had a great spring. J.J. came in here after being drafted and had a really productive spring as well. So, my message to those guys is I want a really competitive situation. Sam will be taking the majority of his reps with that first group, but I think you’ll see J.J. maybe get some as well. But also, it’s about the quality as much as the volume of those reps throughout camp.”
The former Michigan standout arrived in Minnesota with intriguing physical tools. Despite the lack of high-end statistical output, his moving skills and arm power made him a first-round prospect. He now must adapt to NFL speed and learn which throws he can make and which ones he should hold back.
Learning the playbook is another big mental challenge. The 21-year-old needs to feel comfortable within the system with all the rules, audibles, and general play designs. O’Connell’s scheme can be quite demanding.
In the first preseason after O’Connell’s arrival in 2022, Adam Thielen struggled with the playbook: “It’s wild. It’s the most learning I’ve ever had to do. … I’m trying to figure out ways as an old man to learn fast and try to figure out the little details.”
Kirk Cousins used flashcards to memorize everything. Considering that those two guys had already been seasoned veterans at the time, it only underscores the challenge.
Once McCarthy has fully adjusted to the minor tweaks with his throwing motion and is comfortable with the playbook, he can enter the serious starter discussion. Whether that will be the case before the season begins, later in the year, or next offseason remains to be seen, but Thursday’s session was promising and could indicate that he is picking it up rather quickly.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt