The Vikings’ McCarthy Earns a New Mandate
The Vikings’ McCarthy — Mr. Jonathan James McCarthy — is stepping into a team that’s different from the one he initially led in Week 1.
For starters, there’s quite a bit less enthusiasm among outside observers. Expectations have cooled off considerably, now capable of being picked up with one’s bare hand since the team doesn’t appear so sizzling hot. Some of that is due to the play from J.J. McCarthy. In other instances, though, the rest of Minnesota’s roster hasn’t been good enough (such as generating ground yards alongside limiting ground yards). How is the young arm to respond?
The Vikings’ McCarthy Mandate
Scrape, claw, grind, compete, battle. All of these words should come to define how the 22-year-old passer approaches what’s ahead.
Essentially, cast off the No. 10 draft slot. Embrace the life of a third-line forward in hockey (a sport McCarthy played growing up). Be someone who will do all of the little things to help a team win. Avoid glitz and embrace grit. Ideally, there will still be flashes of high-end skill alongside some scoring, but there nevertheless needs to be a commitment to winning even if it’s ugly. Avoid taking sacks, protect the ball like a dragon guards gold, settle for modest gains if that’s what’s best, and understand that a game can’t be won with a single play (while realizing that sometimes a game can be lost on a single play).
Sounds like a lot, but playing quarterback in the NFL is a lot.
For a little while, McCarthy wasn’t dressing for games. He had been kept on the active roster but the Vikings weren’t planning on having him active for a decent stretch. Desmond Ridder was the passer who was hired to be fired, someone who was given a short-term roster spot before being shown the door once McCarthy’s healthy ankle appeared on the horizon.
Slowly, McCarthy has been progressing toward becoming the starter once again. The process took a positive step last week with the elevation to being active for the game as the emergency third passer. With Week 8 already around the corner, J.J. McCarthy is yet again moving toward being the third passer (as Kevin O’Connell explained yesterday).
Afterwards, the task will involve seeing McCarthy push for the start in Week 9. A game against the NFC North’s foremost juggernaut — Dan Campbell’s Lions, a team currently sitting at 5-2 — awaits at Ford Field. Take down Detroit and people will be feeling pretty good.
J.J. McCarthy doesn’t need to be elite. Being a scrappy winner will be good enough.
Indeed, Mr. McCarthy could end up being a quarterback who pushes Minnesota toward a 9-8 or 10-7 finish. If so, then a playoff spot isn’t assured but at least possible. Getting in as the sixth or seventh team appears to be the best case for these Vikings, a team beset by inconsistent quarterbacking, enough injuries to give a doctor a nosebleed, and underperformance from several good players.
The wild part? Just that the year could still be a success depending on what follows.
J.J. McCarthy could lead his Vikings to a playoff spot despite a reasonably disappointing regular season. If, however, J.J. McCarthy then leads his Vikings to a win (or two) in the final tournament, then everyone will be very pleased with where this franchise is going. What more could the Vikings desire than a passer who can both get Minnesota into the postseason and do damage once there?
Much remains to be determined for the Vikings in 2025. Goodness, there’s plenty of uncertainty for Week 8 alone. What’s certain, though, is that the Vikings team that’s now well-acquainted with adversity still has an opportunity to do something meaningful.
Making things vastly more special would be if the Vikings’ McCarthy ends up being a driving force behind an in-season resurgence.
