More eyeballs, more hoopla, more pressure.
That's an honest assessment by The Athletic's Alec Lewis of what J.J. McCarthy is going to deal with now that the wait is over, the rehab done and his chance to lead a franchise is here.
It comes with the territory, of course.
Three-hundred and sixty-five days ago, McCarthy, the 10th overall draft pick in 2024, was entering his first training camp on a mission to learn, compete and grow. His process culminated in a bittersweet exhibition at home against Las Vegas that teased his tremendous talent and resulted in a torn meniscus.
Fast-forward, and the circumstances are different.
Despite missing his rookie season because of injury, McCarthy has the inside track to replace Sam Darnold. The plan is for the 22-year-old McCarthy to inherit the keys to a souped-up team. He'll benefit from as deep of a cast of offensive playmakers as there is in the league, plus a reinforced offensive line that includes Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly, and a defense driven by ingenuity.
The approach is sound, mainly due to Minnesota's adaptability and McCarthy's resilience in the wake of his setback. Kevin Seifert of ESPN shared Sunday the inner workings of McCarthy's quasi-redshirt season.
Specifically, Seifert shined a light on McCarthy's weekly 1-on-1s with Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, where they hashed out game plans, nitpicked fundamentals and extended conversations to life outside football.
"The one thing I learned about him in those meetings is he had great questions, and that validated that he was receiving and getting something out of that time," the former NFL quarterback O'Connell said to ESPN. "And as I've told him, it doesn't really guarantee you anything, but once you're fighting the fight on a daily basis of growing within the system, he would be able to rely on some of what we did together."
Seifert revealed developing McCarthy off the field was central to quarterbacks coach Josh McCown's weekly routine, as well. An 18-year NFL veteran, McCown intimately understood the risk of McCarthy's injury pushing him out of sight, and therefore out of mind, and so he incorporated ways to prioritize his mental development.
McCarthy was sometimes instructed by McCown to write out every third-down play in that week's game plan, enabling the rest of the quarterbacks to refer to the sheet in a film session. Another project included gathering information about opposing defensive coordinators to help him make schematic connections. Occasionally, McCown wanted more, and he asked McCarthy to present research to the group.
It was purposeful work, strengthening McCarthy's mind, particularly his memorization and ability to retain and recite knowledge, during a stretch he was unable to take valuable physical reps on the grass.
"It's not just about listening and learning," McCown said. "But can you process that information and give it back to me? I think that's huge because you're trying to manufacture as many ways as you can to keep his mind around football, processing football, how to attack an opponent, how to think about things."
The verdict on McCarthy, obviously, is pending review, although it's easy to visualize his success.
Unlike a year ago, McCarthy's role is more clearly defined, and there's certainty around him. The foundation is formed, no less, strong. Minnesota won 14 games with a quarterback who did not experience those results as a starter at multiple stops beforehand. Its defense produced several first-time Pro Bowl selections, and its coaching staff is led by extremely savvy offensive (O'Connell) and defensive (Brian Flores) strategists.
There's an external belief, actually, the Vikings can be dangerous. So, yeah, it's a very different vibe.
The mission, however, the ultimate focus, is pretty much unchanged.
In the leadup to Minnesota beginning a new chapter — and continuing its decades-long quest for a Lombardi Trophy — Lewis captured some of what's on McCarthy's mind, per people who are close to him.
Traveling to Illinois to visit with quarterback trainer Greg Holcomb, Lewis realized McCarthy is built for this – the NFL lifestyle, the expectations attached to his draft slot, the cruel twist of his lost rookie year.
When Lewis asked Holcomb how he thinks McCarthy will handle himself, he received an adamant answer:
It's not, "He'll be fine." It's more forceful, like, "I can't tell you how much I'd bet on that kid."
"I don't think it feels like weight to him," Holcomb said.
Then what does it feel like?
"Another opportunity to do something great."
30 going strong at age 30 (and older)
Football is back in session.
Vikings veterans drew the curtain on summer break and reported for 2025 Vikings Training Camp Tuesday, piquing interest in Wednesday's first practice, McCarthy settling under center, and so on and so forth.
Aside from the obvious attention on No. 9 in Purple, here's a refresher on storylines to follow:
For one, fabled enforcer Harrison Smith is raring to go for Year 14. Just last season, Smith gained entry into an esteemed fraternity of players with at least 35 picks and 20 sacks, joining five members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Ronde Barber, LeRoy Butler, Brian Dawkins, Larry Wilson and Charles Woodson).
Additionally, breakout star Andrew Van Ginkel added a year to his previous deal, tying him to the club through 2026. He's looking to improve on 11.5 sacks and a couple of interceptions returned the distance.
Furthermore, locker room leader and on-field tone-setter Aaron Jones, Sr., is hungry for more after his plate was piled with 255 rushing attempts and 1,138 yards on the ground, both personal bests, in 2024.
That string of feats is special. And confirms age is only a number.
On Monday, CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr helped set the stage for another NFL slate by appreciating a collection of players who are defying historical precedent of decline at a certain age and still playing at an elite level.
Short story shorter, Smith, Van Ginkel and Jones made it in Kerr's "Top 30 Players Age 30 or Older."
Van Ginkel received the greatest praise of the three, ranking 18th among the decorated NFL veterans. Kerr noted the best football is in front of the Second-Team All-Pro edge defender who turned 30 July 1.
Other outside linebackers/edges included in Kerr's article are Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt (No. 1), Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson (No. 5) and Houston's Danielle Hunter (No. 11). Khalil Mack was honorably mentioned.
Kerr placed Jones and Smith in succession, at Nos. 28 and 29. Regarding the slashing running back, Kerr commented on his eclipsing of 1,500 scrimmage yards in two of the past three seasons. He also pointed out Jones turns 31 in December, so it'll be intriguing how his workload goes and how his body holds up.
Smith, meanwhile, is in the back-half of his 30s – but not slowing down. Kerr applauded the safety's ball-hawking (three picks and 10 passes defended) at 35, and described him as a "bona fide starter" at 36.
Baltimore's Derrick Henry (No. 2) and San Francisco's Kyle Juszczyk (No. 17) were the other backfield reps, and Pittsburgh's Jalen Ramsey (No. 22) and Darius Slay (No. 26) were featured from the secondary.
Check out Kerr's complete catalog of players resisting Father Time here.
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