US EditionVikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s intensity has a name: ‘I call him Nine’
After failing to acquire a veteran quarterback before the trade deadline, the Vikings are developing 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy as their franchise QB with rookie backups.
- On Sunday, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy enters his fourth start alongside 24-year-old rookie Max Brosmer as the team seeks consistency despite not adding a veteran before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.
- From March through August, the Minnesota Vikings pursued veterans Daniel Jones and Carson Wentz, but General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said nothing materialized, leaving no veteran quarterbacks to help the roster.
- Stat lines show McCarthy's mixed efficiency and scoring impact as he completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and ran for a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
- The locker room has rallied around McCarthy's intensity and playmaking as the 4-4 Vikings gain a jolt from his return and added John Wolford last week for depth.
- Coaches continue to emphasize throwing tempo in J.J. McCarthy's development, and he said Wednesday, `A switch that gets flipped` as he channels anger from missing 20 of his first 22 NFL games.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Post Bulletin
The intensity of J.J. McCarthy and where it could take the Vikings
If there’s anything head coach Kevin O’Connell has learned about being around young quarterback J.J. McCarthy after a game, it’s how to handle himself when the 22-year-old is still very clearly fired up and in the zone. The intensity was on display in the visitor’s locker after the Minnesota Vikings earned the 27-24 win over the Detroit Lions. A video clip posted on social media provided a peek behind the curtain. O’Connell is shown giving a spe…
A New QB Option Has Surfaced for the Vikings in 2026
If the Minnesota Vikings learned anything in the last two months, it’s that they might need a better fallback plan at quarterback next offseason. The club hopped, skipped, and jumped between Brett Rypien, Sam Howell, and Carson Wentz in the last nine months, only to settle on rookie Max Brosmer at QB2 by the middle of the season. Of course, J.J. McCarthy will be the Vikings’ QB1 in 2026, but as a contingency plan, a new name has entered the chat…
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