Latest news with #JMcCarthy
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Vikings mailbag: Submit your post-OTAs and minicamp questions for Alec Lewis
The quietest time of the Minnesota Vikings' calendar is upon us. Players have gone home. Coaches are gearing up for what should be a fascinating season. It's the perfect time to answer some questions. Curious about J.J. McCarthy following OTAs and minicamp? Do you have questions about some of the young players or recent draftees? Toss any questions you want answered below, and we'll return early next week with as many answers as we can get to! Alec Lewis June 19, 2025 4:51 pm EDT
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Vikings' 2025 training camp features night session, joint practices with Patriots
The Minnesota Vikings announced their 2025 training camp schedule Tuesday, with a dozen practices open to fans and plenty of ancillary activities. Training camp opens July 26 and runs through Aug. 14 at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. While camp will open at noon for fans most days, there is one night practice set for Aug. 4. July 28 will mark the first padded practice. The final two open practices — Aug. 13 and 14 — will be held jointly with the New England Patriots. Season ticket members can attend all but the night practice for free. Tickets for older children are $5, while adults will pay $10. The night practice will cost an additional $5 per ticket. Every practice is free for children under 3 feet tall. Ticket reservations open up to the general public at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with 4,000 available for each daytime session and 7,000 on offer for the night practice. In addition to witnessing on-field work, attendees can snag autographs from their favorite players, visit the Vikings Museum, play games and more. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Training camp will offer fans a chance to see new starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, as well as several other new faces on the offense and defense. The Vikings' first preseason game is set for Aug. 9 at home against the Houston Texans. They open the regular season with Monday Night Football in Chicago on Sept. 8.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vikings Fans React to 'Concerning' J.J. McCarthy News
Vikings Fans React to 'Concerning' J.J. McCarthy News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to be subject to all sorts of critique. Yet to throw a pass in a regular-season game, McCarthy's body of work in organized team activities (OTAs) and training camp will be closely monitored -- a byproduct of the rabid news cycle and engagement appetite on social media. Advertisement Internally, head coach Kevin O'Connell has pushed back on any tracking of throws at this stage of the offseason. He has encouraged the young quarterback to make mistakes at this stage of the offseason program. Forcing throws into tight windows and pushing the boundaries as a passer are necessary risks for McCarthy to embrace and for O'Connell to gauge in his plans for McCarthy's first year as a starter. But outside of the quarterback room, every completion, touchdown and interception caught on film will be overblown on social media for fans ready to see the 22-year-old take the starting reins. Just days into the OTAs, a report stating the Vikings have "concerning thoughts" about McCarthy caught some serious flak on social media as fans pushed back on any concern at this stage of the offseason. Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) at Vikings training campJeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Appearing on SKOR North, Ross Tucker argued that he thinks the Vikings have some doubts about McCarthy because of their efforts to re-sign Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones -- a take that was amplified by Newsweek on June 2. Advertisement "No matter what the Vikings say about J.J. McCarthy... they wanted [Sam] Darnold back," Tucker said. "And then when they weren't going to get Darnold back, they wanted Daniel Jones back... As much as they're 'sold' on J.J. McCarthy, they weren't that sold... so [the Vikings] have some doubt." Tucker was met with a fanfare of critique. "Vikes wanted Sam back? Sam only is getting 30 mil from Seahawks. That is not bad for a QB. If Vikes wanted him back they easily could've resigned [sic] him. They chose not to," one Vikings fan wrote on X. "The Daniel Jones part is laughable. Jones chose Colts because he saw an easier path to start. If Vikes weren't sold on JJ Jones could've easily stayed n competed for job. He chose to leave." "This may as well be an Onion article," a second fan replied. Advertisement "One persons opinion doesn't mean the Vikings are 'reportedly concerned' about JJ McCarthy," a third fan said. "This is such sensationalism lmao." "Even a Chicago Bears fan didn't buy into any ridicule coming from Tucker: "I wouldn't worry much about this article Vikings fans, this @RossTuckerNFL guy is a clueless moron." Unfortunately, this is the tip of the iceberg for McCarthy's first offseason as a true starter, but Vikings fans appear not to be taking any bait prematurely. Related: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Dealt Josh Allen Comparison by Former Bills Teammate Related: Vikings Defender Delivers Strong Statement at OTAs on CB Room Concerns This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
McCarthy, Vikings value Jefferson's presence and leadership in offseason practices
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings urged Justin Jefferson to fully participate in their offseason program, a commitment some established NFL stars aren't willing to make each spring. The sixth-year wide receiver was already a step ahead of the coaching staff. This is a critical offseason for Jefferson and the Vikings, breaking in a new quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, so he was planning to make his attendance a priority. 'It's definitely important to gain a little bit of a sight of what the new year is coming to look like, to build that connection with my teammates and especially with my quarterback,' Jefferson said after practice on Monday. 'It's definitely great to be out here early to kind of get into the feel.' These late spring practices, known in league parlance as organized team activities, are when the basic installation of the playbook begins, even though only the three-day minicamp next week is contractually mandated. It's also a prime opportunity to build that rhythm and trust between the quarterback and his receivers. 'He's a tremendous talent, tremendous leader, but his leadership really shows up when he's here,' said McCarthy, who accompanied Jefferson to a Timberwolves playoff game last month when they sat together in courtside seats. 'Just being able to get that chemistry building on and off the field has been invaluable.' Jefferson, whose 7,432 receiving yards are the most in league history through a player's first five seasons, said he doesn't concern himself with the style or tendencies of who's throwing. 'As long as the ball gets close to my face, I'm going to try to catch it,' he said. 'It doesn't matter how fast the ball is going, the spin of it or if it's coming from a lefty or a righty. My job is to catch the ball.' What's most important to Jefferson is the quarterback learning to adjust to his route-running preferences, with an exceptional stride length and side-to-side agility that helps set him apart. 'It's that timing, those reps,' McCarthy said. 'All of that has to be built up over time.' Which is why Jefferson being around all the time is so valuable. 'He's an energy igniter of the whole building, and I think he's come back with a purpose and a mindset,' coach Kevin O'Connell said. 'You hear his voice, you hear his interaction with teammates, and they just carry such a long way.' Not just for the quarterback. 'The guys in that locker room know, 'If this guy, one of the best in the world at what he does, is pushing himself in May and June, I sure as heck better be doing the same thing,'' O'Connell said. McCarthy, whose rookie season was spent entirely in the training room recovering from knee surgery, at least had some meaningful time in strategy meetings that helped him start to build the knowledge base in the offense even if he wasn't taking snaps on the field. 'I've been really surprised by some of the things that he does know. You're like, 'Man, we covered that in a 10-minute burst in Week 11 last year. How do you remember that?'' O'Connell said. 'And then there's some other things where you're like, 'Oh, I assumed he knew that.' So it's our job — baseline teaching and stacking days and layered learning so that we're constantly making him feel like he's growing but never comfortable.' Jefferson can see that too. 'He definitely has an arm, that's for sure. He can definitely zip it whenever he needs to,' he said, before recounting his advice to McCarthy at this stage of the offseason. 'Just let everything happen. Don't try to make the best play every single play.' ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
29-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy impresses in first competitive practice since torn meniscus
EAGAN, Minn. — The video probably exists somewhere. Maybe the Minnesota Vikings have it on their internal systems, or perhaps a local television reporter captured it live. Last summer, during an otherwise subdued training camp practice, J.J. McCarthy hurled a pass to tight end Nick Muse. It was a competitive rep on a side field. Following the completion, an acrobatic snag near the left sideline, McCarthy raced down the field and chest-bumped the 6-foot-5, 252-pound Muse. Advertisement The reaction felt organic. It seemed like the boyish, young quarterback got more caught up in the competition the deeper the Vikings extended into training camp. He ripped in-breakers. He offered philosophical quotes in press conferences. The more reps he received and the more times he executed plays successfully, the more comfortable he grew being himself. That throw and the eventual response are now a meaningful data point. If that's what McCarthy looked like when he began to build some momentum — in both his eyes and the minds of coaches — how does the present compare? Overreacting to one afternoon of organized team activities would be foolish. But on Wednesday, on the practice field inside the TCO Performance Center, McCarthy resembled his former self in almost every way. No, the 22-year-old was not doing any chest-bumping. This was more about his arm, his comfort and his command. 'He's done an unbelievable job,' said coach Kevin O'Connell. 'You forget the fact (that) this is his first runway since the injury. It's a credit to the work he put in.' LIVE: Head Coach Kevin O'Connell talks to the media during OTAs — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 28, 2025 O'Connell's praise is not a declaration. The Vikings aren't naming McCarthy the starter in late May based on a 35-yard completion over the middle to superstar receiver Justin Jefferson. McCarthy won't be crowned because he connected with receiver Jordan Addison on the wide side of the field from the opposite hash. Completing a slant to receiver Jalen Nailor doesn't validate anything. Checking the ball down to running back Aaron Jones does not mean the Vikings are destined for the Super Bowl. This is mostly a minuscule — albeit relevant — early observation. McCarthy's throws spiraled the same way they did last year. He absorbed the play verbiage, stepped into the huddle, spit out the calls, walked to the line of scrimmage, hollered out the cadence and urgently progressed through reads. He did all of the things you have to do, with few hiccups, to be a successful quarterback in this league. Advertisement Even when there were hiccups, the Vikings staff approved. Here's why: When it comes to optimal quarterback development, O'Connell does not see much value in making it easy on them. They must try, fail and learn. Attempting to fit the ball into tight end Bryson Nesbit over a defender and watching the throw whiz past Nesbit's fingertips is not a problem. Shuffling six steps into a drop instead of four on a particular play, throwing off the timing of the route concepts, is part of the process. 'We're constantly making it feel like he's growing,' O'Connell said, 'but it's never about him being comfortable or satisfied on any particular outcome because we're building toward something much greater than a play here or there.' O'Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown agreed this spring not to assume anything with McCarthy. They implemented a hefty amount of playbook inventory. McCarthy has surprised them frequently with recall from his rookie season. Other times, they've reviewed essential details. It's all part of the current phase O'Connell describes as 'learning and teaching.' They're all benefiting from the team's attendance. Players like Jefferson, who do not have to show up for these voluntary sessions, are not only present but engaged. Tight end T.J. Hockenson arrived in phenomenal shape, and Nailor morphed into a stouter receiver this offseason. Their presence works twofold. It prevents some of these practices from becoming monotonous. It also allows McCarthy to simulate realistic timing. Especially in seven-on-seven drills, McCarthy will drop back and methodically eye the route progression. He uses these reps to synchronize his footwork with the speed of the route concepts. After practice, McCarthy evaluates the film of the throws twice. First, he'll scan through them during his post-practice treatment sessions. Then later in the night, he'll dissect them more intensely. Meetings with coaches the next day reinforce the opportunity for learning. Advertisement McCarthy won't see many misses from Wednesday's practice. He dropped a beautiful back-shoulder throw to Nailor down the right sideline, and later, he effectively anticipated an out-breaking route to Addison. Once he finished a post-practice weightlifting session, McCarthy held a 10-minute news conference. 'First off, I'd just like to say that it's been a great start to the offseason,' he began. LIVE: J.J. McCarthy talks to the media during OTAs — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 28, 2025 McCarthy expressed his gratitude for being back on the field with teammates in a competitive environment. One reporter asked how he balances his eagerness and patience. McCarthy offered the type of explanation that had become customary throughout last year's introduction before he tore his meniscus. 'Everyone wants to be perfect, especially at the quarterback position,' McCarthy said. 'The more you try to be perfect, it's going to kill you more than your imperfections will.' In other words, he sounded like himself as well.
