Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson is fully backing his quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, despite a shaky minicamp showing. Sure, training camp stats don’t matter. But what does matter is how a quarterback performs after missing an entire season, especially when that QB is expected to lead the franchise.
Jefferson, an elite playmaker in his own right, can’t do it alone. He needs the quarterback to get him the ball. For this offense to work, the two need to be on the same page. That’s why Jefferson’s vocal support for McCarthy says a lot about how much faith he has in the young passer.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Earns Vote of Confidence From Justin Jefferson
The last time McCarthy played in a game, it changed the course of the season. A torn meniscus during a preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders ended his rookie year before it even started. With McCarthy sidelined, the Vikings turned to veteran Sam Darnold, who guided the team to 14 regular-season wins — the second-most in franchise history.
Now, Darnold is in Seattle, and the spotlight is back on McCarthy. He’s had some rough moments in minicamp, but Jefferson came to his defense, offering an endorsement to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
“He can let it rip, for sure,” Jefferson said. “That’s definitely the thing about him. He has a very strong arm. The velocity of the ball and the spin on the ball, he has a tight spin.”
In another video, Jefferson made it clear that he’s standing by his quarterback, both on and off the field.
“Really to let him know that I’m here. I’m here to conversate about different things that he sees on the field, and I’m also there for him off the field as well.”
– Justin Jefferson on JJ McCarthy 🥹pic.twitter.com/xOC0sMXz7O
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) June 13, 2025
What that statement doesn’t address is one key trait every NFL quarterback needs. Arm strength is nice, but it’s not the most important thing. Accuracy is.
Lewis pointed out some of McCarthy’s missteps. “McCarthy made some notable mistakes. Last week, he layered a pass toward the left sideline, and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers undercut it for an interception. Wednesday, a McCarthy attempt toward the right sideline was snatched by cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.”
Accuracy can’t be emphasized enough. It goes way beyond just completing passes. A quarterback has to fit throws into tight windows and give his receiver a chance to run after the catch.
Hitting a receiver in stride can turn a short gain into a chunk play or a touchdown. McCarthy needs to work on his touch at all levels of play. You don’t need a fastball on a slant, and you don’t want to float a deep shot. This is where arm strength comes into play — a topic he discussed with SKOR North podcast host Judd Zulgad.
“It’s a good question, Judd.” 😂
– @jzulgad asking #Vikings QB JJ McCarthy on why people doubted his arm strength. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/sOteyHnBFn
— SKOR North – Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) June 12, 2025
Jefferson is the kind of talent who can shine with almost any quarterback. In five seasons, he’s made the playoffs twice with two different QBs leading the team. But not everyone on the Vikings offense has his level of skill. That’s why McCarthy has to clean up the accuracy issues — and fast.
The NFC North isn’t going to give the Vikings any breaks. Every game will be a battle.