Vikings training camp takeaways: J.J. McCarthy's recent performance and more observations

New York Times

2 days ago

EAGAN, Minn. — Kevin O'Connell manages a press conference as well as any coach in the NFL. If there's a message he wants to send, you can trust it'll be delivered.
Friday was the latest example.
The Minnesota Vikings' head coach paused during his news conference, gazed upwards, then said, 'The sky has not fallen. So, all good.'
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His offense had been stagnant in the preceding days. Young quarterback J.J. McCarthy hadn't struggled to any concerning degree, but the lack of consistent ball movement warranted a response from O'Connell. It's like asking a baseball manager about his starting pitcher. The stat line says this, but what did you see?
O'Connell noted the challenge of facing Brian Flores' dynamic defense. He cited McCarthy's competitiveness. He fixated on the post-play dialogue and suggested that those real-time reviews are what he liked the most.
Perhaps the most interesting sequence was what sounded like a private conversation he'd have with McCarthy behind the scenes. O'Connell rattled off the tenets of the quarterback's job in his passing game: Technique and fundamentals. Eye progression. Discipline in your decision based upon the situation.
Erring in any of these areas would raise O'Connell's antennae. Something similar occurred on Wednesday. McCarthy was flushed from the pocket, and, while drifting to the right, he tried an across-the-body throw to running back Aaron Jones. Linebacker Blake Cashman nearly intercepted the pass.
Following the rep, O'Connell offered a sampling of his on-field teaching: 'What I care about is when I can say, 'Hey, great job. But that first-and-10, let's not only talk about your decision, but what was your mindset when you hit the ball to (Jalen Nailor) on the play before? We're not that far from the goal line. Why risk ending the drive by a tip or overthrow?'
These were the types of instances O'Connell foreshadowed in his news conference before training camp. The coach maintained then that some of the most fruitful moments of training camp would revolve around McCarthy's decision-making depending on the game situation.
O'Connell and the Vikings' offensive staff know there's a push-pull here, too. They want to rein McCarthy in a bit to prevent him from turning the football over come September. But they also know his athleticism and competitiveness are hallmarks of his previous success. Threading that needle is one of the developmental challenges.
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McCarthy missed a few layup throws in the red zone last week. But for the most part — and most importantly — McCarthy has kept the ball out of harm's way, even when the pocket has been constricted. The protection has not been perfect since the team began padded practices, and the quarterback hasn't turtled. To be more specific, McCarthy's consistency has been head and shoulders above the other three quarterbacks, and Saturday may have been McCarthy's best practice since the Vikings put on pads.
At one point, McCarthy faked a handoff, side-stepped in the pocket and lofted a nice pass to receiver Jordan Addison down the left sideline. In a seven-on-seven sequence, McCarthy feathered a ball beautifully to tight end Josh Oliver.
But the most notable play happened earlier in the day, when McCarthy caught the snap and positioned his eyes to the right. Before releasing the football, he recognized the opposing cornerback inching forward. So the quarterback reset, progressed to the middle and threw an accurate pass to Addison. There was no dialogue following this completion. Instead, O'Connell leaped out onto the field from his spot behind the play and excitedly gave McCarthy a high-five.
The backup quarterback position remains a question mark.
So much of O'Connell's offense is tied to rhythm and timing, and 24-year-old Sam Howell continues to operate a tick slow. Safety Theo Jackson intercepted Howell to end Wednesday's practice. His worst throw may have come Friday, when Howell released the ball late over the middle and, again, Jackson swooped in for the pick.
Howell's arm has life. It's more a question of how well and how quickly he can pick up and handle an offense with refined details, especially with the pass rush humming.
In recent days, Brett Rypien has received more opportunities with the No. 2 offensive unit. The 29-year-old has started four NFL games, throwing four touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Vikings acquired him from the Chicago Bears last fall, aware of his smarts.
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He hasn't dominated his reps either, though. On Wednesday, he threw a curious red zone interception directly to cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
It's always possible that the receivers are responsible for plays like those. Still, given the performance from the backups writ large, it feels fair to wonder: If neither Howell nor Rypien tightens the screws, will the Vikings look externally for a backup the way they did a few years ago when they traded for Nick Mullens?
Turning it up a notch. #Skol pic.twitter.com/taCX6D5S9c
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 3, 2025
It'd be hard to tell Justin Jefferson was nursing a mild left hamstring strain. On Saturday, he jogged out to the practice field and nearly chest-bumped O'Connell as the team stretch was beginning.
Jefferson has been tossing passes with teammates on the sidelines. He has observed most of the competitive drills between the offense and defense. On Friday, he even walked into the huddle and hollered a few motivational words. Still, there is no update on his timeline.
'I know the reports back to me have been really positive,' O'Connell said Friday. 'I think the evaluation with something like this is more so the checkpoints before he's eventually doing more and more.'
It might seem small, but Jefferson's attentiveness throughout this period is a continuation of the standard he has set for years. It's not simply that Jefferson takes time to talk about different release strategies with a receiver like Jeshaun Jones amid a one-on-one rep. It's that Jefferson is engaged, acting as an extension of O'Connell's eyes and ears at a critical time in camp.
• Saturday's practice featured some shenanigans. Linebacker Brian Asamoah jawed with new guard Will Fries, and then undrafted edge rusher Tyler Batty clobbered running back Aaron Jones, igniting a full-team tussle.
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What did the vets think of the extracurricular activities? 'That was f—ing awesome,' right tackle Brian O'Neill said afterward.
• One intriguing undrafted player is offensive lineman Zeke Correll. The Notre Dame and NC State product has taken snaps at center with the second-team offense, and some of his teammates have hinted at his intellect. He's not likely to overtake 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens for a 53-man spot, but he's worth eyeing in the preseason.
• Who will fill out the receiver room behind Jefferson, Addison, Nailor and Tai Felton? Jeshaun Jones, whom we wrote about last week, is an option.
Another? Lucky Jackson, who once played a game for $200 for the Vegas Knight Hawks in the Indoor Football League. The Vikings signed Jackson in 2023 following a productive season in the United Football League with the DC Defenders. Coaches have raved about his progression.
• Linebacker and sixth-round pick Kobe King has been playing opposite Eric Wilson with the second-team defense. He sniffed out a screen Saturday, earning a roar from the defensive sideline. He also knifed into the backfield and ended a run attempt. This level hasn't looked too fast for him by any stretch.
• Left tackle Christian Darrisaw has already begun mixing in with the first-team offensive line in team drills. The Vikings haven't shared their timeline for his eventual return. That said, his presence could allow for an earlier resumption of play than initially expected.
• Who is going to be returning kicks and punts for the Vikings? Right now, there's nothing close to an obvious answer, nor one that inspires much faith. Felton only returned two punts in college. Undrafted receiver Myles Price only returned three kicks in college. Rondale Moore's durability comes with no guarantees. Undrafted receiver Silas Bolden may be the best option not named Isaiah Rodgers, who happens to be the team's No. 2 cornerback.
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• There is zero doubt about the first three cornerbacks on the depth chart: Murphy, Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. The backups, however, are another story. On Saturday, undrafted corner Zemaiah Vaughn took snaps with the second-team defense opposite Mekhi Blackmon (and ahead of Dwight McGlothern). Blackmon, for his part, made arguably his best play of camp in a one-on-one red zone period against Moore. Blackmon traced Moore's route, then deflected the pass in the end zone.
• Two other less-heralded names to remember are undrafted defensive tackle Elijah Williams and defensive back Kahlef Hailassie. Williams starred in college as an interior pass rusher for Morgan State. Flores singled him out Saturday. Hailassie, an undrafted cornerback in 2023, filled in for Jay Ward at safety Saturday and impressively broke up a downfield pass to Oliver.