Minnesota Vikings rookie minicamp got underway last Friday, and new quarterback J.J. McCarthy headlined the event.
Vikings’ New QB Aced the Test
All eyes for the foreseeable future turn to McCarthy’s development and maturation, as his eventual performance will define Vikings football for the next several years.
And at minicamp, plus over the weekend in general, McCarthy aced the test, and here’s why.
1. Per His Words, He’s Ready
Somehow, McCarthy is already prepared for the bright lights of the big job.
He told reporters on Friday, “It didn’t feel like my first day. I’ve been going over the offense for a long time now. So being able to go out there and perform and execute, that’s new, but it was nothing that was overwhelming or too much.”
McCarthy could have, in theory, been mum on the topic of knowing the offense, as Kevin O’Connell’s system is known for complexity. But McCarthy said the right things — he’s ready — which is music to the ears of Vikings fans.
2. The Camera Test
Not too much can be gleaned from a new quarterback at a rookie minicamp. It’s not a robust training camp event where humongous strides are taken. Yet, McCarthy was neither shy for the cameras nor looked bad in purple.
Put frankly, the man passed the eye test — on the microphone and tossing the ball a little bit.
And it wasn’t just a microphone. There was the aesthetic of tossing the pigskin.
After six years of Kirk Cousins, who held down the QB1 role with the utmost consistency, it was refreshing to see a newcomer impress in front of the cameras. After all, that’s what rookie minicamp is for, at least from a fans’ perspective.
3. The Wolves Game Appearance
Vikings fans love their Timberwolves team — especially the 2024 edition — and McCarthy was in the house at Target Center on Sunday night. Of course, the Wolves lost the crucial showdown, but such is life for Minnesota sports, well, anything.
Yet, along with several Vikings players, McCarthy fired up the cross-spot camaraderie angle and attended the Wolves’ playoff game.
Our very own Janik Eckardt provided a tweet to illustrate why McCarthy’s presence was important.
Until training camp kicks off, fans will hang on every McCarthy tidbit, and last weekend was the first example. And it’s a righteous task: no Minnesota quarterback has held the QB1 job for longer than 5.5 seasons since the 1980s.
