J.J. McCarthy, according to pretty much every Vikings reporter on social media, had his best day of the summer on Thursday.
And maybe that's why Minnesota won't start McCarthy this weekend in their second preseason game.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced after Thursday's joint practice with the Patriots that McCarthy is sitting out this weekend and that backup QB Sam Howell will start.
In one reporter's tracking, McCarthy went 14-for-16 with five touchdowns during Thursday's practice in 11-on-11 periods.
It appears the Vikings are choosing to protect their franchise QB rather than play him with less than a month to go until the regular season.
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It's fair to understand their cautious approach. Last August, McCarthy sustained a season-ending knee injury in the preseason and missed his entire rookie campaign after being the No. 10 overall pick out of Michigan.
It's also fair to argue the opposite, though.
The Vikings' season hinges on McCarthy's ability to distribute the ball to their talented pass catchers, led by Justin Jefferson (although Jefferson won't be out there this weekend, either).
Game repetitions are likely a valuable tool for McCarthy after he got none as a rookie.
It's a risk-reward balance, and O'Connell clearly liked what he saw enough on Thursday to pull the plug on the preseason game itself.
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Many coaches value joint practices more than preseason games, and that appears to be what's happening here.
It's a good opportunity for Howell, who has starting experience and was acquired in a draft day trade from the Seahawks.
But make no mistake about it: McCarthy appears to be hitting his stride, and the Vikings have opted to protect that rather than put it at risk in a game that doesn't count. Clearly, they don't believe those reps matter enough to take the chance.
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