J.J. McCarthy shared on Tuesday that the Minnesota Vikings have not officially named him as their starting quarterback for the 2025 season. Despite this, after spending his rookie year sidelined due to a knee injury, McCarthy is poised to earn the starting role during the offseason.
In an interview on the Up & Adams show, McCarthy expressed that his knee is now feeling “fantastic,” and he’s fully committed to the recovery process. “I would say I’m 100 percent,” McCarthy said, emphasizing the importance of staying disciplined in his rehab.
“I’m just staying consistent with the rehab process, not wavering from that, staying disciplined with all the outside stuff, and making sure I’m not chopping too much wood and all that fun stuff.”
McCarthy’s 2024 season was cut short after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee during the Vikings’ first preseason game. He underwent surgery, which ultimately kept him out for the rest of the year. However, McCarthy found a silver lining in his injury, reflecting on how the time off allowed him to establish a routine.
J.J. McCarthy
It was the ultimate blessing because it’s just a time of stillness where you really get to reflect, and introspect, and find a routine — especially early on in this career and this profession,” he explained. “It’s huge for young guys to find that habitual routine that they can rely on and stay consistent with. So, I would say that was the biggest thing for me.”
Currently, the Vikings have McCarthy and Brett Rypien on their roster at quarterback, making McCarthy the likely frontrunner for the starting role. However, Minnesota is expected to add at least one more quarterback before their offseason programs begin to help ensure an even distribution of reps as they prepare for the season.
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