The Minnesota Vikings finished with a 14-3 record during the regular season in 2024. Sam Darnold was the starting quarterback for the entire 2024 season.
He had one of the most surprising seasons ever in the NFL. Darnold was the starter for the entire season because of quarterback J.J. McCarthy tearing his meniscus during his rookie season. With Darnold signing a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks, McCarthy has the keys to this offense. How will he look with the Vikings during the 2025 NFL season?
Minnesota Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Is the Biggest Story To Watch During OTAs
Garrett Podell of CBS Sports wrote about each NFC team’s headlines entering OTAs in 2025. Well, this appeared to be a storyline even before OTAs, but the biggest question with the Vikings was about McCarthy. With Minnesota moving on from Darnold, it was clear that head coach Kevin O’Connell is already doubling down on the former Michigan Wolverines quarterback moving forward.
Podell said about Minnesota’s biggest story to watch during OTAs,
“One thing to watch: How quarterback J.J. McCarthy looks
The Vikings traded up in the 2024 NFL Draft to select McCarthy 10th overall, and then he tore his meniscus last preseason. That opened the door for veteran journeyman Sam Darnold to take the reins, and he produced the first Pro Bowl season of his seven-year NFL career.
Minnesota possesses perhaps the best offensive ecosystem in the NFL with Pro Bowlers at running back (Aaron Jones), wide receiver (Justin Jefferson), tight end (T.J. Hockenson), center (Ryan Kelly) and right tackle (Brian O’Neill). That list doesn’t include young first-round talents at wide receiver (Jordan Addison) and guard (Donovan Jackson). Plus, head coach and offensive play caller Kevin O’Connell is the reigning NFL Coach of the Year. How healthy will McCarthy look, especially after being robbed of crucial developmental reps as a rookie because of his injury? The Vikings are all in on McCarthy, so it’s critical he shows he might have what it takes to be a reliable NFL starter. “
After the Seahawks signed Darnold, there were some rumors going around about Minnesota potentially signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers after he was released by the New York Jets. However, the Vikings did not have any interest of bringing in Rodgers to be the starting quarterback. Minnesota has a roster that could win a Super Bowl.
However, one of the biggest questions will be how does McCarthy look during OTAs and training camp leading up to the 2025 NFL season. Minnesota has a lot of talent on offense and defense. Having Jones back in the backfield will be huge for the Vikings. He was productive for them in 2024, and he will probably will once again during the 2025 NFL season.
Jefferson, Addison, and Hockenson are some good wide receiver/tight end options to have. Minnesota will be in contention again for a playoff spot in the NFC. The performance of McCarthy will depend upon if they are a team that can go all the way, a team that can just be in the wild card round, or a team that may miss the playoffs entirely. He is truly the biggest question mark of this football team entering the 2025 season and hopefully McCarthy is fully recovered from his torn meniscus injury.
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