Vikings QB1 Proclaims His Revival
All eyes are on J.J. McCarthy, who is fully expected to be Minnesota’s starting QB when the season kicks off in September. After a challenging rookie season, the second-year player provided an update on his knee.
Vikings QB1 Proclaims His Revival
The 22-year-old appeared on Up & Adams and was, of course, asked about his status. Vikings fans, rejoice! The man is healthy.
Michigan’s national champion declared, “Fantastic, yes. Fantastic. I would say I’m 100%. Cheers to that. Staying consistent with the rehab process and not wavering for that and being disciplined with all the outside stuff and making sure I’m not chopping too much wood.”
McCarthy was drafted with the tenth overall pick last April, becoming the highest-drafted passer in franchise history. What does he bring to the table? Outstanding leadership, enthusiasm, the requisite mobility to succeed in today’s NFL, and a rocket arm.
However, his first campaign in the NFL was brutal. The highly-touted signal-caller was suddenly asked to recover from a season-ending knee injury rather than compete with Sam Darnold for the QB1 gig and a chance to operate one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Once again, his positive mindset prevailed. He thinks the injury will help him going forward.
“It was the ultimate blessing because it was such a time of stillness where you really got to reflect and introspect and find a routine, especially early on,” McCarthy emphasized. “This career and this profession, it’s huge for young guys to find that habitual routine that they can rely on and stay consistent with. I’d say that was the biggest thing for me.”
Taking a step back from the spotlight can help players grow, which is what many former players often complain about. Rookies nowadays get thrown into the lineup within weeks; McCarthy had time to develop behind the scenes, although he surely would’ve also benefitted from throwing the ball. He used the injury to learn from his teammates.
Departed safety Cam Bynum was recently asked about his ex-teammate and was full of praise.
“I trust him. J.J.’s somebody that I trust. Just a leader, first and foremost,” Bynum said. “The way that he carried himself as a leader but also still following the right way and still listening and humbling himself to learn from the other guys.”
Bynum signed a four-year deal in Indianapolis. He continued:
“But the one thing that stood out to me from him, as soon as he got in, he was throwing that ball. He was a gunslinger in practice. First and 10, simple concepts, he’s throwing the deep ball, he’s trying to fire it downfield. That’s something that I respected out of a rookie. Going forward after his injury, he’s sitting there in the defensive team meeting room, trying to learn our defense and trying to learn any way he can. He’s kind of a maniac when it comes to football.”
He will not be on the team, but he is still rooting for Minnesota’s new pilot.
“The way that he carried himself while he was hurt, I can only imagine how he’ll carry himself when he’s healthy,” Bynum added. “When they give him the keys to the program to be able to go and just carry himself as that leader, and they let him know ‘you’re the guy, we’re rolling with you,’ I think J.J.’s going to grow. And like I say, J.J.’s somebody I can trust.”
McCarthy landed in some kind of social media controversy in the last few months when folks were concerned about his weight. Those rumors have already been shut down by reporters, but he looks fantastic in his interview with Kay Adams.
Nobody should be surprised that a professional athlete with professional facilities and dietitians can quickly gain weight.
The pressure is high for the first-year starter. He is asked to be the missing piece of a 14-3 team that got better on paper in the last few weeks. The one uncertainty on that competitive team? The unknown passer. In college, he proved that handling pressure isn’t an issue.
McCarthy, 22, has received praise from teammates and coaches alike. He has the rare opportunity to make his first steps in the NFL with a stacked roster and excellent coaching.
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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