The Minnesota Vikings are betting a potential Super Bowl season on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy and are putting him through the ringer considering the stakes.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic detailed some of the potential reasons behind McCarthy’s early struggles on Monday, June 23, reporting on the intense program to which Minnesota has subjected its 22-year-old quarterback.
The Vikings weren’t babying J.J. McCarthy this spring. He may have been coming off of a torn meniscus, and he may only be in his second season, but Minnesota’s staff made the tests difficult. McCarthy received lengthy call sheets before practices. He was responsible for calls at the line of scrimmage. He was not at all chastised for mistakes, but the seriousness of each rep seemed evident.
McCarthy didn’t float perfectly through the weeks, but a steady stream of growth imprinted on the staffers monitoring him every day. He threw the ball with accuracy. His arm strength stood out. His ability to layer different throws continues to be the priority physically. However, the mental challenges of the spring became the most important. The team’s hope is that making it as hard as it’s been over the past few months will supercharge growth come training camp and the season.
Sam Howell Represents Vikings’ Only Security Blanket Behind J.J. McCarthy
The biggest difference in the Vikings’ quarterback room this season as compared to the last, beyond overall experience, is the margin for error.
Sam Darnold put up a Pro-Bowl campaign in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, while veterans Nick Mullens and Daniel Jones were at the ready to step in if the need arose. However, all three are playing elsewhere in 2025, with Darnold and Jones poised to start for their respective teams come September.
It is fourth-year signal caller Sam Howell who now resides behind McCarthy and will replace him should the latter suffer injury and/or struggles that require Minnesota pull him from the QB1 position for any length of time.
Behind Howell is Brett Rypien and behind him is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. If McCarthy falls flat, Minnesota has no surefire option to replace him. As such, the Vikings must find out all they can about both McCarthy and Howell in training camp so as to decide whether they need to make another move under center before Week 1.
Vikings Have Minimal Options if J.J. McCarthy, Sam Howell Both Struggle in 2025
Should the Vikings decide a veteran is needed, they have a few options, though those options are relatively limited.
Lewis recently mentioned luring Ryan Tannehill out of retirement, though he didn’t play a single snap in the league last season or spend a single day on an NFL roster. Carson Wentz is another free-agent possibility, though the Vikings haven’t indicated any interest in the former No. 2 overall pick as of late June.
Former starter Kirk Cousins, who played two seasons under O’Connell and made a Pro Bowl/led the team to a playoff berth during that time, is available via a trade with the Atlanta Falcons. After that, however, the list grows incredibly thin.
