The Minnesota Vikings have bet not just the upcoming season, but their long-term future, on second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy -- a somewhat risky wager considering he is just 22 years old and has yet to play a regular-season snap in the NFL.
Minnesota has passed on the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers, at least for now, clearing a path for McCarthy to win the starting job. However, the young quarterback is coming off of two knee surgeries following a preseason injury in August 2024 that robbed him of his entire rookie campaign.
On Wednesday, April 2, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shared good news on McCarthy's recovery and progression with NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
"He's been in a great spot. Every checkpoint he's exceeded."@Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talks with @tompelissero about J.J. McCarthy's recovery and the excitement to get him back on the field in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/wM7PWPtKRi
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 3, 2025
"We're excited about J.J. McCarthy," Adofo-Mensah said. "Obviously, he had an injury setback, but we're excited about everything he's done from that point, and we're going to go forward with that."
"He's been in a great spot. Every checkpoint ... he's exceeded," Adofo-Mensah continued. "Every throwing session, every workout, I mean the kid is so detailed and process-oriented."
The GM added that the team will look to fill out the QB room with more depth, as Brett Rypien is the only other signal-caller on the roster as of early April.
Minnesota has spoken to Ryan Tannehill about a backup job and has also been floated as a landing spot for players like Joe Flacco and Carson Wentz in free agency.
Related: ESPN Suggests Three Positions of Need for Vikings in NFL Draft
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM.