The Minnesota Vikings are finally in the J.J. McCarthy era after he missed all of his rookie season with a brutal meniscus injury he suffered in his first preseason appearance. However, McCarthy is fully healthy now, and he’s ready to prove to the league that he can compete with the best.
On Thursday, during a joint practice session with the New England Patriots, McCarthy was one of the most impressive players on the field.
“Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy DICED UP the Patriots secondary during today’s joint practice and had a sequence where he completed 12 or 13 passes in a row,” reported Football Forever after the strong showing.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy DICED UP the Patriots secondary during today’s joint practice and had a sequence where he completed 12 or 13 passes in a row🔥
🔶15/19 PASSING
🔶5 PASS TD
Quite the impressive showing from the 2024 1st-round pick. pic.twitter.com/Sni8BAacUc
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) August 14, 2025
Even Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell took note of McCarthy’s strong day.
“It felt decisive. Incredible amount of conviction to some of the decisions he made, location of the football,” O’Connell said.
McCarthy, however, isn’t shocked by his dominance on the field.
“I think I’m one of the, you know, most accurate guys out there,” McCarthy said, per Pro Football Talk, “and just being able to take a day-to-day and, you know, really hone in on just every single throw.
“It’s not just, you know, ‘The ball was completed.’ It’s, ‘Did I give him a runner’s ball?’ ‘Did I put it on the right pad for him to turn a certain way?’ So, you know, just being able to really lean into that as one of my strengths is something that I always have to be extremely hard on, every single throw.”
It would appear the league’s next great quarterback has arrived.