The Minnesota Vikings have officially handed the keys to the offense to JJ McCarthy, and so far, training camp has been a mixed bag. But on Thursday afternoon, the second-year quarterback gave fans plenty to smile about during the Vikings’ joint practice with the New England Patriots.
At least, that’s how Boston Herald Patriots reporter Andrew Callahan saw it.
Going up against New England’s stingy first-team defense, McCarthy was nearly flawless.
Callahan reported he went 14-of-16 with five touchdowns and two sacks during 11-on-11 work in the tight red zone and full-field periods. As Callahan put it, “The Patriots defense is getting shredded today.”
McCarthy isn’t expected to play Saturday against the Patriots, but Thursday’s showing might be precisely why coach Kevin O’Connell is choosing to rest him. After getting reps in last week’s game against the Houston Texans, he might not retake the field until Week 1’s showdown with the Chicago Bears.
The Patriots brought plenty of firepower to Thursday’s practice, with Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Keion White, and Christian Gonzalez all seeing reps against Minnesota’s top players—minus one notable exception.
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“McCarthy has dropped a few dimes today, including 2 TDs,” Callahan wrote. “Good coverage, just better throws. But overall, the Vikings' offense won these periods easily. Barmore had both sacks.”
That would be All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who’s been sidelined for weeks with a hamstring injury. McCarthy and Jefferson haven’t had much time to develop chemistry yet, but that didn’t stop the rookie from finding plenty of success with TJ Hockenson and Jordan Addison.
That’s what makes the performance so impressive. New England coach Mike Vrabel has a reputation for making life tough on young quarterbacks, but McCarthy looked unfazed, showing poise and command well beyond his years.
He’s built a resume filled with wins at the high school and college levels—and now, he’s starting to stack evidence that he can succeed in the NFL, too. Thursday wasn’t just a good day in practice.
It was a glimpse of what the Vikings hope is their future.