In the first week of the preseason, Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy made his first start in over a year and showed he’s ready to take on a bigger role. He stayed calm and made the most of his chances leading the offense.
Even without stars Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones on the field, McCarthy completed 4-of-7 passes for 30 yards, including a 18-yard reception by Jordan Addison against the Houston Texans.
Although Jones wasn’t playing alongside him, he’s still very confident in what McCarthy brings to the team.
Matt Verderame from Sports Illustrated recently spent time with the team and wrote a story on McCarthy. During that time, Verderame also spoke with Jones, who has worked closely with both future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and McCarthy.
When asked to compare the two quarterbacks mentally, Jones had a memorable response.
“[McCarthy] is a very, very hungry and driven player, but also a leader,” Jones said. “He’s different. In terms of smarts, I put him in the same category as Aaron Rodgers — how smart he is and his deep understanding of the game.”
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McCarthy, a former Michigan Wolverines star, hasn’t yet had much time to prove himself since being drafted No. 10 overall by the Vikings two draft classes ago. Still, just being mentioned alongside Aaron Rodgers speaks volumes.
Minnesota was a key player in the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes all offseason and was rumored to be his top choice. But coach Kevin O’Connell’s confidence in McCarthy never faltered. The Vikings have made their intentions clear.
This is JJ McCarthy’s team now.
All eyes will be on McCarthy as he tries to live up to the high expectations and justify the Vikings’ faith. The foundation is in place — now it’s his time to write the next chapter.