The Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation remains a work in progress, and no matter what they say, rumors continue to link them to Aaron Rodgers. Despite that, their head coach, Kevin O'Connell, seems pretty content to roll into the 2025 campaign with J.J. McCarthy starting under center.
Once free agency opened, the Vikings watched Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens all bolt for greener pastures, leaving McCarthy as their lone quarterback. While they initially seemed to be bowing out of the race for Rodgers, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah kept the door slightly ajar last week.
"For me to sit here and say anything is 100% forever, that's just not the job," Adofo-Mensah said last week of the Vikings pursuit of Rodgers.
Until Rodgers signs, he will likely continue being linked to Minnesota, regardless of whether or not they are actually interested in him. In the meantime, O'Connell and the coaching staff are preparing as if McCarthy will be their Week 1 starter, and it sounds like he's pumped about the second-year passer's development.
"I’m really confident and really excited to see him hit the ground running. He’s had a great offseason, and I can't wait to get going with him once OTAs get going," O'Connell said on "This Is Football."
Minnesota selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, but he did not play at all as a rookie after suffering a season-ending meniscus injury in August.
The Vikings will add another quarterback one way or another before the 2025 season gets underway, but for now, it appears as if McCarthy is in line to be the team's Week 1 starter.
