Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has had a rough go of things since his return to the lineup after a five-game absence while battling an ankle injury.
The second-year signal-caller has completed 56% or less of his passes in his last four starts, and McCarthy hasn't had a start this season without throwing an interception.
In Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, the Michigan alum threw two interceptions, completed exactly 50% of his passes, had just 150 yards passing, and the Vikings offense totaled only 265 yards.
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Things got especially bad in the third quarter when McCarthy overthrew star wideout Justin Jefferson near the right sideline, which resulted in boos raining down from the fans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
McCarthy took accountability after the game for letting Vikings fans down. And while the 22-year-old passer was taking criticism from every direction, Jefferson stood up for his teammate after the loss while also acknowledging the offense has some work to do.
"I mean, it wasn't the best game for any of us," Jefferson told reporters. "I felt like we should have played better overall. But at the end of the day, when it really counted, J.J. stepped up - that's the main focus.
"Of course, there are things to work on and fix on the offensive side of the ball. We also need to help the defense out a lot more than we're doing. Like I said, we have to look at the film, see what needs to be fixed, work on it, and come back ready to go."
Few would deny McCarthy's level of play isn't up to par for a team looking to compete for a playoff spot in a loaded NFC North.
But some feel the deck has been stacked against him with missing five games at the beginning of the season and being thrown back into the fire where his inexperience (he has just five career NFL starts) is working against him.
However, Jefferson made it known as a leader on the team that he isn't above putting in some extra time with his quarterback to help him right the ship.
"I have to be the one leading us in the direction of winning and being where we need to be," Jefferson added. "So if that means taking J.J. out and getting more time with him and building that connection, then that's what I have to do. I have to figure out what I need to do to get us over that hump."
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