EAGAN, Minn. — "Competitive sucker" is an apt description of J.J. McCarthy.

The Vikings starting quarterback has been figuratively knocked off his feet more than once the first two weeks of training camp. But he's not stayed down – or folded – in the fight versus a remorseless defense.

Practicing against Brian Flores' troops, and especially a front seven led by Pro Bowl outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, plus havoc-makers Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on the inside, is the perfect opportunity to prepare McCarthy for the plans Minnesota designed for him when it drafted him 10th overall 15 months ago. It might not look perfect; it's a perfect training ground, though.

And that's what McCarthy ultimately needs to be ready, mentally and physically, for his NFL debut.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on Friday painted the backfield-blustering antics of Greenard and his pass-rush buds as a "tremendous challenge for not only our young quarterback, but our whole offense."

Completions in team periods that would be wiped out by sacks have been a common occurrence. Tidal wave levels of pressure have impacted McCarthy (and Sam Howell, Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer) on the regular. The results, such as four interceptions by the defense in Wednesday's session, are better for one side of the ball than the other. But a chance to respond has lent itself to key moments, as well.

In Friday's practice, McCarthy stood taller in a calmed pocket down at the goal line. On one snap, he was flushed right, maintained his eyes on his receivers and flicked a cross-body touchdown to Lucky Jackson.

The 22-year-old gained momentum Saturday, as well. Early on, he moved to his left and floated a pinpoint pass up the sideline to Jordan Addison, who snuck past a coverage mismatch. On another play, McCarthy dropped a dime in Jalen Nailor's breadbasket far up the field to his right. That one landed incomplete but likely would have drawn defensive pass interference. McCarthy even toyed with his release, cocking his arm sideways to slip a ball around outstretched hands and into Aaron Jones, Sr.'s lap. McCarthy's precision, patience and confidence were met with dap-ups from players and coaches.

But the arm pumps for a banging job by the offense haven't come without lumps the first nine practices. O'Connell is of course jazzed by the defense's activeness – and wants the offense to rise to the occasion.

"I'd like to see a little more of that," the coach remarked, referencing McCarthy and the gang matching the defense's tone rep-by-rep. "But also the response day-to-day as we build towards what is over a month away in that first game. And we've got pretty strict standards around here to try to reach on a daily basis to make this the camp that I'm looking for, and I think we're well on our way to doing that.

O'Connell directed his gaze up and paused, then quipped: "The sky has not fallen. So, all good."

The truth is it would be lazy to sum up McCarthy's second training camp so far with a simple tally of his touchdowns and interceptions, or his sack count compared to his efficient snaps, when there's a positive angle realized in every result – good or bad – thanks to communication between coach and quarterback.

"What I've loved is just the dialogue after some of the plays," said O'Connell, sharing their back-and-forth focuses on fundamentals and situational decision-making. "That's what I care about, when I can say, 'Hey, great job. But that first-and-10, now, let's talk about not only your decision, but what was in your mindset when you hit the ball to Speedy (Nailor) and we were, you know, clock stopped, first-and-10, with a chance to, you know, only down a point now, so we're not that far from the goal, why risk potentially ending the drive by a tip or overthrow back in the middle of the field?' And that's what I'm so excited about this time. And it's the dialogue of the great protection calls he's made; it's the dialogue of a great checkdown he's made on first-and-10 when maybe the downfield shot is not there.

"Those are the things that I've really enjoyed and really seen him grow, but at the same time he's a competitive sucker now," O'Connell added about McCarthy's impulse. "He wants to win every drill and win every day and that's kind of my job, to try to bring a complete feel to everything that we're doing."

It shouldn't be lost on anyone, either, that McCarthy is getting comfortable as QB1 against a defense that's well-versed in making offenses extraordinarily uncomfortable – and doing it sans a stable o-line.

Although left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right guard Will Fries have more regularly stepped into their starting five slots, they've not taken 100 percent of the reps, shuffling in and out as they both progress from injuries that ended their 2024 seasons and build back their stamina. Naturally, that disrupts chemistry in the trenches and to an extent prevents McCarthy and the offense from finding its ideal feel.

It's a pleasant sight, however, when Darrisaw and Fries are included. O'Connell spent part of Thursday, an off-day, thumbing through tape of different sessions – and the 300-pounders snatched his attention.

"I was going back through it all as if it was one big practice and I'm kind of buzzing through, and then all of a sudden – 'bam!' – there was 76 at right guard and 71 at left tackle; wasn't a whole lot of snaps quite yet, but it was certainly great to see those guys out there," O'Connell said about the big development. "Now it's a matter of conditioning for both Will and Christian, mixed in with getting their technique and fundamentals dialed in at that position. … [There is going to be] some real runway for them to feel like they're game ready based upon what they're practicing against on the other side of the ball every day."

That readiness should extend to McCarthy, even if in the meantime some reps produce an ugly outcome.

"Without getting into too much detail, some of [the pressure] hasn't been schemed. Some of it's been guys like Hargrave, Allen, Greenard, Dallas Turner, flat-out winning right now on a pass rush," O'Connell credited the defenders. "And no, we have not had our top five [offensive linemen] up there, but that pass rush, without it needing to be schemed, has been winning up front. And that's the challenge for our o-line as it comes together, as we do get Will and C.D. out there more and we're able to activate some things kind of the same way Hargrave and Allen have kind of impacted, from Day 1, the defensive line."

O'Connell noted there's no excuse of, "Hey, we don't have those guys at full capacity," but there is an expectation of Darrisaw and Fries, as they acclimate to greater workloads, helping the offense succeed.

"It's easy to watch a practice and [say], 'Man this is domination, or this that and the other,' especially when you're not calling balls and strikes on the run game, when we're scripting things and things are just kind of as is, but there's no question that I have to talk to J.J. daily about, 'Hey, you're playing a really good defense and this is a great challenge for all of us,' " O'Connell said. "And we can't get too wrapped up in the minutiae of the minute-to-minute, play-to-play analysis as much as doing your job, technique and fundamentals, eye progression, discipline of my decision based upon the situation and then after all that let's start talking about the result, and then most importantly how we can improve for the next rep."

The process circles McCarthy's competitiveness, which is seen in spades; in his cheerfulness with teammates despite a "loss" by the offense; in his level-headed, post-play chit-chats with O'Connell or Quarterbacks Coach Josh McCown that encourage him to reset and keep pushing the envelope; and in his overall demeanor that depicts a player confident in his talent, environment and team's potential.

"Every quarterback that's normally found success in the NFL has been competitive. It's not like he can physically go put his hands on somebody on the next play like some other positions can and get some anger and aggression out," O'Connell said, explaining a reaction isn't necessary. "Just move on to the next play and do your job and implore the other 10 guys in that huddle to meet the moment and do their job. That's competition. And that's why I thought Wednesday was a great, great learning op for us and expect to see many, many more chances to respond playing against that group the rest of the way."

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