Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

“I Know I’m Ready To Start” J.J McCarthy Is Ready To Step Up As the Starting Quarterback for the Vikings

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings had a great season last year, even though they did not go far into the playoffs. They finished the season with a 14-3 record in the 2024-2025 NFL season, which was their winningest season since 2017 where they went 13-3. However, the quarterback that lead them to a 14-3 record wasn’t J.J McCarthy, who they drafted as the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but instead it was Sam Darnold.

McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during the preseason debut against the Las Vegas Raiders on August of 2024. He underwent initial surgery in August, which required a full meniscus repair sidelining him for the entire 2024 season, and another surgery was performed in November of 2024 to address swelling that developed during his rehab. However, fortunately for the Vikings and McCarthy, he was expected to make a full recovery from the injury by the start of the 2025 season.

BREAKING: VIKINGS HAVE TRADED UP TO THE NO. 10 OVERALL PICK AND ARE DRAFTING J.J. MCCARTHY

Reigning national champ lost ONE GAME his whole Michigan career 🤯

(via @AlbertBreer) pic.twitter.com/NeorXb2SYX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024

Also Read: Rams GM Les Snead on Finding Players That Truly Love Football

Sam Darnold’s Acquisition by the Vikings

The Vikings had also previously signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract and it was for two main reasons. The first one would be the competition for McCarthy, as the Vikings’ plan was to not immediately start McCarthy but letting him learn under his veteran quarterback, Darnold, who was looked at as a capable starter for the Vikings. The Vikings also needed an insurance for their former quarterback Kirk Cousins, who parted ways with them after signing a massive deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

Now that both Vikings decided to keep McCarthy and part ways with Darnold, we wonder what next season would look like for the Vikings, and the young QB already has an answer for everyone that is in doubt.

J.J McCarthy Is Confident in Himself About Leading the Team As the Starting Quarterback

McCarthy’s injury that kept him out for a year, has not fazed his confidence, and recently he announced that he is ready for the role, as the Vikings’ starting QB. He said;

“I know I’m ready to start… Because all the work I put in and just the confidence in my skills and my abilities. And just being able to do my job and simplify 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 I have a tremendous coaching staff, tremendous group of guys around me, that I can lean in and they can lean on me.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NFL on ESPN (@espnnfl)

All eyes will be on the young rookie quarterback, at the start of the next season, who will not only be making his official NFL regular season debut, but also will try to fill in the shoes of their former QB, Sam Darnold, who had a great season last year. While most of don’t expect him to be an immediate star, the Vikings chose him over Darnold, who they let walk in the free agency this season and sign with the Seattle Seahawks. We will see if that was a great move, or a move that they’ll regret in the future, very soon.

Also Read: “49ers’ Window Is Closed” – NFL Analyst Marcus Spears Explains Why

J.J. McCarthy

Minnesota Vikings

NFL

Eric Divakaran

nba

nfl

mma

I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.