The Vikings’ QB1 is Getting “Extensive Work” While Progressing Toward Starting Again
The Vikings’ QB1 — the 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy — is soon to return to the field.
Currently, the best guess is that McCarthy will be under center in either Week 7 or Week 8. The optimists in the crowd will be hoping for both contests, but that remains to be seen. After all, facing the Eagles before venturing into a short week that is a road contest on Thursday Night Football is difficult for any passer, let alone someone who is still so young. Maybe that basic reality makes the recent word about earning “extensive work” even more encouraging.
The Vikings’ QB1 is Working in an “Extensive” Fashion
Source for the insight? A good one, to be sure: the team’s head coach.
Kevin O’Connell chatted with the media before sinking out of sight, working behind the scenes during the bye week. He was directly asked about J.J. McCarthy, prompting the response about where things are moving per workload: “He’ll be here. We’ll be able to get him some extensive work, kind of as a lead-in to next week. And I anticipate his workload building up.”
O’Connell then vowed to “take advantage of that bonus Monday” before committing toward the coaches “making sure we’re self-scouting” to forecast what the team’s “identity [should] be as a team here as we attack the post-bye part of the season.”
At 3-2, the Vikings are firmly within the NFC playoff race, slotting in somewhere within the conference’s (and league’s) middle class. Consider the current conference hierarchy:
- Philadelphia Eagles, 4-1
- San Francisco 49ers, 4-1
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-1
- Detroit Lions, 4-1
- Green Bay Packers, 2-1-1
- Seattle Seahawks, 3-2
- Minnesota Vikings, 3-2
The basic fact that Minnesota finds itself in a playoff position — albeit due to tiebreaker and in the final slot — is good news. After all, there has been no shortage of roster turmoil, leading to a pile of shuffling in and out of the lineup.
Within all of that has been J.J. McCarthy, the sophomore quarterback who left his fingerprints behind at the crime scenes in Week 1 and Week 2.
To be sure, the opening game versus the Bears left much to improve upon. But, crucially, McCarthy found a way to flip a switch at the pivotal moment, blowing wind into the Vikings’ sails before bringing the ball across the goal line himself to secure the win.
The Falcons game that followed contained no such promise. The game finished off at an ugly 22-6 score. McCarthy’s stats showed a quarterback completing 11/21 passes (52.4%) for 158 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Worse yet, McCarthy was sacked 6 times and fumbled the ball thrice on his way to a disastrous 37.5 passer rating.
Much to improve upon. Thankfully, there’s going to be a hearty helping of work.
The offensive line is (slowly) getting healthier. Jordan Addison is back from his suspension (and benching). C.J. Ham is now helping on offense, Blake Cashman should help the defense to keep points off the board, and perhaps there even ends up being a trade at some point to help shore up an area of weakness.
Most important of all, however, will be J.J. McCarthy. Getting (and staying) healthy is but the first step. Progressing in his abilities is what’s needed on an individual and team level. Seeing him take developmental steps through these next several games will be massively important if the Vikings want to topple the NFL’s most imposing teams.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
