JJ McCarthy’s NFL career hit a roadblock when a knee injury in his first preseason game ended his rookie season before it started. The Vikings quarterback is healthy now and ready to return.
Minnesota won’t hold him back this time.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed Monday that McCarthy will play Saturday when the Vikings host the Houston Texans. Some had speculated the team might keep the rookie on the bench until Week 1 in Chicago.
“We’ve got that plan in place. I haven’t talked to him about it yet — we’re taking things day by day — but I’ll let him know first. The plan is for JJ to play on Saturday.”
O’Connell didn’t specify whether McCarthy would appear in the second or third preseason games.
Saturday marks McCarthy’s first live action in nearly a year. His last appearance came in that preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he suffered a torn meniscus that ended his season.
The snap count remains unclear. He might get a full series or just a few plays.
Either way, it’s progress.
The Vikings have used a patient approach with McCarthy throughout training camp. They’ve eased him into reps and given him time to adjust to the system.
Saturday represents his first real chance to show what he can do in live action. It’s an opportunity to shake off the rust and start getting comfortable running the offense at game speed.
For McCarthy, the stat line won’t matter as much as command. How does he handle the huddle? How well does he connect with receivers? How quickly can he process what he’s seeing?
For Minnesota, it’s the start of a bigger evaluation.
They’ll get their first look at whether their potential franchise quarterback is ready to take ownership of the offense.
