J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings open training camp on July 20 for rookies and July 22 for veterans, but the second-year QB has been putting in work all offseason. In his latest noteworthy session, McCarthy was joined by fellow Vikings, old and new.
After getting in work with former Vikings star and two-time Pro Bowler Adam Thielen in 2024, McCarthy was back working with the Carolina Panthers wideout this summer.
The meet-up, an apparent promotion for UNRL athletic apparel, raised fans’ eyebrows.
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“He’s a great kid. You don’t really realize that he’s 21 years old when you’re talking to him [or] when you’re hanging around him. He’s got a maturity about him that you can tell that goes beyond his age,” Thielen said on “#92Noon!” in July 2024
“That’s step No. 1 as a quarterback, right? To have that maturity level, to have that kind of poise or, kind of, that aura around you that just feels like confidence and just a good, good person. So I’ve really enjoyed being around him for the little time that I’ve been able to be around him, and [I’m] excited to kind of follow his career.”
McCarthy might get the opportunity to throw to Thielen in a game, but it could have to wait until 2026, barring the Vikings making a trade during the 2025 season.
Thielen is in the final year of his contract with the Panthers, but retirement is a possibility.
J.J. McCarthy an ‘Unanswered Question’ for Vikings
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak considered McCarthy’s performance in Vikings training camp the question with the widest “range of outcomes.” Solak noted “two parallel universes” of possible outcomes for McCarthy.
“In the first, a year of rehab gave McCarthy the opportunity to prepare mentally, and he is accordingly as sharp as a tack under center — no rookie mistakes. Fully physically recovered, he offers more on the boot than [Sam] Darnold ever did, creating a new layer in the already dangerous Vikings offense. Minnesota hits the ground running,” Solak wrote on July 16.
“In the other, Minnesota really does hit the ground running because McCarthy isn’t ready. He is uncertain on the knee and still adjusting to NFL speed, and it’s not like he was a pass-heavy maven in college either. The Vikings heavily rely on a retooled offensive line, as well as a running back by committee with Jordan Mason joining Aaron Jones. They keep as much off their young passer’s shoulders as possible as he works his way to NFL ball.”
The answer is quite possible somewhere in the middle of Solak’s two scenarios. McCarthy drew mixed reviews during the Vikings’ offseason program, even if most leaned positive.
There are no questions about McCarthy’s arm talent or athleticism, though.
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“He’s got all the tools, that’s for sure,” Thielen said. “He can sling it. He’s super accurate. We’re in shorts and some T-shirts out there. But, yeah, that you can see a lot just from accuracy timing and those kind of things when you’re running routes on air.”
J.J. McCarthy Building Chemistry With Teammates
McCarthy’s relationship with All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson on and off the field has been a significant storyline for the Vikings, right along with Minnesota’s efforts to bolster the offensive line and the ground game.
McCarthy is doing his part.
Vikings fullback C.J. Ham and receiver Jordan Addison also joined McCarthy and Thielen for their latest workout. McCarthy has also worked with Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson.
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The Vikings also added to their defense. That should help with short fields off stops and takeaways. The Vikings ranked fifth in scoring defense in 2024, though they were ninth offensively. McCarthy must prove the Vikings chose the correct path.
