The Vikings hardly got any performance, let alone what they expected, from their 2024 NFL Draft first-round pick J.J. McCarthy due to his torn meniscus. The 2025 season, however, renews the hope of seeing some action from McCarthy this year.
The quarterback hardly played in one preseason game when he had to completely stop playing in his rookie season and instead focus solely on recovering. When asked about his injury status, McCarthy had positive news for Minnesota fans.
J.J. McCarthy Has Good News Regarding his Injury Status
The Vikings QB updated on Tuesday morning that he feels “100%” entering the 2025 offseason on the “Up And Adams” Show.
“I mean I would say I’m 100%,” McCarthy prefaced before elaborating, “But just staying consistent with the rehab process and not wavering from that and staying disciplined with all the outside stuff and making sure I’m not chopping too much wood and doing all that fun stuff.”
However, there are chances that the Vikings don’t name him the starter just yet, especially since he’s coming off a fresh injury and not to mention that he’s a rookie.
The quarterback revealed that the Vikings haven’t told him he’s the starter yet. But McCarthy’s proving himself as a good sport. Instead, he opened up on how he has leveraged his year off to focus on building his “consistency” as a rookie in the NFL.
“It is an ultimate blessing because it is such a time of stillness where you can really get to reflect and introspect and find a routine, especially when you’re when you’re in this career and this profession. It’s huge for young guys to find that ritual, that routine that they can rely on and staying consistent. I could say the same for me.”
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy says he is 100%!@heykayadams | @jjmccarthy09 pic.twitter.com/d0JTUVNkRf
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 25, 2025
That said, the Vikings would be coming out with a decision soon – be it making McCarthy their starter or someone else, since Sam Darnold is now off in Seattle.
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There has been some noise around the possibility of Minnesota adding Aaron Rodgers as their starter. That is a possibility, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell know they cannot rely on just that. Rodgers could just as well sign with any other team, like the Giants or Steelers, and leave the Vikings out to dry.
Lucky for them, McCarthy has already started his on-field training despite being “consistent” in his rehab program. If anything, that would earn him some credit in his case of becoming the starter.