After spending his rookie year on ice, J.J. McCarthy has thawed and is ready to go.
His responses Tuesday said it all, starting with addressing his readiness to take over atop the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback depth chart.
"I know I'm ready to start," McCarthy said after a workout open to reporters. "Because all the work I put in and just the confidence in my skills and abilities, and just being able to do my job and simplify things to the best of my ability every single day and just taking one day at a time, one play at a time and, you know, I have a tremendous coaching staff, a tremendous group of guys around me that I can lean on and they can lean on me."
McCarthy's rookie season last year ended before it truly began. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft showed flashes of promise in his preseason debut, but he suffered a knee injury that required season-ending surgery, sending him into the shadows of what ended up being a premier production. Sam Darnold starred, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record and playoff appearance that disappointed only because it ended well before most expected when Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Rams during Wild Card Weekend.
All the while, McCarthy was spending his time recovering and taking plenty of mental reps. It's a period that represents a significant reason for McCarthy's confidence entering 2025.
"The whole process has been, you know, a unique one," McCarthy said. "I haven't had an injury like this that sat me down for so long, and I was very grateful for the opportunity that I had to really get a head start on the mental side of the game, you know, our offense, opponents, defensive schemes and individual aspects of each player.
"Just really getting on the same page with K.O. (Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell) has been awesome, you know, last season seeing how he calls the games and everything like that, as well as, you know, the intricate personality traits of the guys on the team and being able to, you know, feed those that help strengthen the overall group and help strengthen them individually, and be there for them when some things aren't going their way and you could address it from something you learn off the field and help get them back to neutral baseline."
Essentially, McCarthy spent his rookie season getting to know his teammates and learning the operational standards of the Vikings' organization under O'Connell, equipping him with experience as he prepares to add the physical responsibilities to his workload in 2025.
He's prepared -- and feels better than ever.
“Overall, I feel 110% because I feel better than when I got hurt eight months ago," McCarthy said. "Just really excited to be out here with the guys again and be in the building.”
McCarthy's ascension to a starting role was a product of his draft position (10th overall in the 2024 draft), market influences (Darnold's $100.5 million free-agent price tag wasn't exactly financially friendly) and organizational confidence -- even if some of it is blind, given he hasn't seen a single regular-season snap. If the Vikings are going to receive a return on their first-round investment, they can only do so by throwing McCarthy into the fire.
Fortunately, that's where McCarthy says he is most comfortable.
"Personally, I think the more pressure the better for me, because that's something I thrive off of and, you know, they always say the cliché: pressure is a privilege," McCarthy said. "But that's something that you sign up for when you play in the National Football League, especially at the quarterback position. And I feel like pressure, all it does is just bring out what's inside of you, and I feel pretty good about what's inside of me. More pressure, the better, honestly."
There were some interesting bumps in the road to this point. Minnesota was rumored to be a potential landing spot for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but these Vikings are comfortable proceeding with McCarthy -- who admitted on Tuesday that he kept his blinders up amid Rodgers rumblings -- as their guy.
McCarthy will step into a lineup filled with players boasting more experience than the quarterback, who is essentially a rookie in terms of playing experience. He has a leg up on most rookies, though, given he's had a year to find his footing amid the marathon that is an NFL season. And he's not worried about proving himself to his teammates.
He'll let his play do the talking.
“Just be me," McCarthy said. "Do everything I can to make sure I’m the best version of myself come game day and just put out that body of work that they’re going to see on a day-to-day basis. Show up, be consistent, be reliable, be a true pro. The rest will take care of itself.”