When he’s warming up for the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, quarterback J.J. McCarthy said he plans to take a few seconds to soak in the moment.
A dazzling debut from McCarthy last year in the preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders was immediately overshadowed by a torn meniscus suffered during the performance.
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That started the long road back for McCarthy as he worked tirelessly to get ready for this year.
The story will come full circle for McCarthy in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
Never mind that McCarthy might not play more than a few series. He’s looking forward to whatever head coach Kevin O’Connell has in store for him.
“Just being out there again is going to be really special,” McCarthy said. “I can’t wait to go do it.”
Not many starters are expected to play an extended period of time. That will leave a lot of space for backups to make a name for themselves.
Here are five players with something to prove as the Vikings host the Texans:
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J.J. McCarthy
There have been ups and downs for the 22-year-old quarterback in training camp, which was to be expected as he steps into the spotlight. He has showcased his arm talent with impressive throws. He has also had his fair share of struggles leading the offense against a talented Vikings defense.
This will be a good chance for McCarthy to build confidence as the Vikings probably won’t see anything too exotic from the Texans in the preseason game.
Will the offense look crisp with McCarthy under center? That’s the biggest question heading into this weekend.
Ty Chandler
It’s not a guarantee that the 27-year-old running back makes the team, given the emergence of fellow running back Zavier Scott in training camp.
The issue for Chandler has never been his skill set. He’s blessed with a noticeable burst that allows him to separate from defenders. The question has always been his attention to detail. He’s been caught out of position far too often in his career while also struggling in pass protection.
Whoever performs better between Chandler and Scott in the preseason will likely have the upper hand.
Tai Felton
There haven’t been many standout plays from the 22-year-old receiver in training camp to this point. He doesn’t seem to be super comfortable catching the ball right now, as he’s been plagued by a few drops.
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That said, Felton can flip the script in the preseason. He will get a ton of snaps on offense and will also play special teams. The latter will more than likely be where he makes his mark as a rookie.
Levi Drake Rodriguez
There have been several times in training camp that the 25-year-old defensive tackle has come close to stepping over the line. He’s a wrecking ball in the trenches that always goes 100 mph regardless of circumstance
The propensity to play with his hair on fire should bode well for Rodriguez in the preseason. It’ll be interesting to see how impactful he can be when he’s on the field.
Zemaiah Vaughn
There’s no sense in reading too much into where the 23-year-old cornerback is on the unofficial depth chart. It’s been a good showing from Vaughn thus far in training camp, and he has put himself in a good spot heading into the preseason.
Now it’s time for Vaughn to keep the ball rolling. If he performs well over the next couple of weeks, Vaughn could end up making the team as an undrafted free agent.
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