Kevin O’Connell Doesn’t Hold Back on J.J. McCarthy Decisiion

J.J. McCarthy has earned a vote of confidence from Kevin O’Connell as the Vikings starting quarterback

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The Minnesota Vikings have undergone some serious changes over the 2025 offseason, with the biggest change taking place at the quarterback position. After losing Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Nick Mullens in free agency, that leaves J.J. McCarthy in line to be the team’s Week 1 starter under center. While questions have loomed surrounding McCarthy’s status, Kevin O’Connell provided a strong message on the second-year passer.

The Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and he entered training camp in a battle with Darnold for the starting job. While it seemed like Darnold had the inside track to start Week 1 anyways, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in Minnesota’s preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders that ended his season before it even started, forcing him to watch from the sidelines for the entire 2024 seasons

Darnold enjoyed a breakout season with the Vikings, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, leading the team to 14 wins and a spot in the playoffs, although they crashed and burned in their Wild Card matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. While there was interest between Darnold and Minnesota in a reunion, he ultimately ended up signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.

That left McCarthy as the presumed starter, which was always going to be a bit of a risk given that he has yet to throw a pass in a regular season game. O’Connell and the Vikings clearly felt good enough about McCarthy to select him with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, though, and they have a solid offensive infrastructure that should allow him to succeed I immediately

Despite that, questions continue to be asked regarding McCarthy’s status, whether it be with his injury recovery, or if he’s actually going to be starting in Week 1. O’Connell has remained adamant that McCarthy is on track to start in Week 1, and he reaffirmed that commitment once again when asked about the former Michigan Wolverine