Although there is always a chance that their plans change, the Minnesota Vikings are apparently moving forward with J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback for this coming season.
He missed all of 2024 with a meniscus injury after he was the No. 10 pick in last year’s NFL draft. He will have a wealth of high-level playmakers to work with, which is always a big key in the success of a young NFL quarterback.
One of those weapons is star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who is in the discussion of being arguably the best receiver in football. While on “Up & Adams,” McCarthy told host Kay Adams that he and Jefferson have a “fantastic” relationship.
“Fantastic,” said McCarthy. “We resonate deeply on that joyful, playful energy.”
After leading the league in both receptions and receiving yards in 2022, Jefferson had a down year in 2023, mostly due to a hamstring injury that limited him to 10 games.
But last season, he returned to form with 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns while playing in all 17 games. He helped Sam Darnold, Minnesota’s QB1 in 2024, have a revelatory season and make the Pro Bowl for the first time.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18).
Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
The team went 14-3 last season and came to the brink of clinching the top seed in the NFC. It ultimately lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams.
McCarthy helped lead the University of Michigan to the College Football Playoff National Championship just one calendar year ago. There have been questions about how he would do in a pass-heavy offense, such as the one Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell uses, after playing in Jim Harbaugh’s pound-and-ground system at Ann Arbor.
