The Minnesota Vikings are one week into OTAs, and we’ve already learned quite a bit about how the 2025 squad is going to look. The NFL Draft answered a lot of those questions, including the biggest one surrounding J.J. McCarthy.

The rumors surrounding the Vikings signing Aaron Rodgers never made a lot of sense. Yes, they needed a backup quarterback, but bringing in one who wants to start always felt a little odd.

J.J. McCarthy proclaims he’s ready to start

OTAs were open to the media on Tuesday and players were also made available. The most important of those was McCarthy. It didn’t take long for him to make a statement, as his first words continued to confirm his health.

“I feel 110% because I feel like better than you know when I got hurt eight months ago, and, yeah, just really excited to be out here with the guys again and be in the building.”

We’ve known for awhile that McCarthy was healthy coming into OTAs, but it’s good to both hear him say it and also see him throw the ball live.

McCarthy looked really good throwing the football, including to his left, which was an issue at Michigan. With how things ended in the preseason, it was great to see McCarthy throwing again.

We also got to see what the Vikings loved about McCarthy coming out when he talked with reporters. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert asked him if he was ready to start and the answer was beyond confident.

“I know I’m ready to start. I appreciate that question, Kevin, because all the work I put in, and just the confidence in my skills and abilities, and just being able to do my job, and simple, simplified things to the best of my ability every single day. And, you know, just taking one day at a time, one play at a time. And you know, I have a tremendous coaching staff, a tremendous group of guys around me that I can lean on, and they can lean on me.”

How can you not read that and be fired up? McCarthy exudes this confidence that’s beyond palpable. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and McCarthy doesn’t come anywhere close to the latter.

The offseason is going to be exciting for the Vikings.