Don’t count JJ McCarthy out as Minnesota Vikings starting QB just yet?
But now that training camp is just three weeks away, there’s some new chatter developing around the MN Vikings’ QB situation. And this time around, it has a slightly different feel to it.
Let’s start with Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated), who wrote Monday that O’Connell plans to remain disciplined with JJ McCarthy. He also noted, however, that the QB conversation in Minnesota could “evolve and change as camp gets going”.
It is pretty clear that Sam Darnold will be getting the starting quarterback reps to start training camp. The head coach has said as much. But Vikings fans must remember that just because Darnold is the starter going in, doesn’t mean he’ll be the starter when they break camp in the fall.
There’s a reason JJ McCarthy was drafted in the top-10 of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy has arm talent, he’s mobile, smart, and a proven winner. He’s the future of the franchise, so why can’t he hit his supposed “benchmarks” faster than expected?
It’s all about the benchmarks…
Breer isn’t the only deeply rooted NFL insider hinting at a realistic possibility that JJ McCarthy earns the Vikings’ starting QB job out of camp. Dan Graziano (ESPN) did the same on Monday, reminding fans about the benchmarks KOC has set for him.