JJ McCarthy may have been a Michigan legend, leading the Wolverines to a national championship, but at Minnesota, he is just a backup quarterback for the Vikings. However, his teammates, such as Justin Jefferson, believe that the quarterback is showing signs of improvement.
Speaking with reporters at the Vikings training camp, Jefferson, whose net worth is $10 million, spoke with reporters and said that they are staying patient with their budding quarterback, who will be entering his sophomore year in 2025.
“yeah definitely have to have patience. He is pretty much a rookie. Last year, pretty much doesn’t count for him, so he’s still new to the team, new to coming out here and throwing to these different receivers, so you have to have that patience,” Justin Jefferson told reporters.
Jefferson then noted that for his second year in the NFL, JJ McCarthy has shown some signs of improvement.
“You know, you are not really expected to have him have the same mindset as a veteran, you can’t really have that expectation from him,” he added. “But we do have an expectation of him being great. Him coming out here every single day working his b*tt off and progressing every single day and we do see that progression just on the second day of camp, so it’s coming along for him, you feel like you can see the confidence he has out there and if you’re in a huddle, you see the confidence he has in a play just getting out there and wanting to make the next play.”
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JJ McCarthy had a disappointing first season at Minnesota, tearing his meniscus and undergoing surgery and being placed on injury reserve. With the 2025 season, however, McCarthy has been thrust into a bigger role as the starter quarterback after the previous starter, Sam Darnold, went to the Seattle Seahawks.
Entire Vikings Organization Holds JJ McCarthy in High Regard, Says Center Ryan Kelly
With JJ McCarthy now the new QB1 at Minnesota, his teammates are rallying behind him. Ryan Kelly, one of his newer teammates, also revealed that the entire Vikings organization is backing him.
“The whole organization holds him to a high standard. But it’s not nearly the standard he holds on himself. I think when you have that at 22 or 23, that’s our guy,” he said in an interview with the Athletic.
Minnesota beefed up its offensive line in an effort to protect McCarthy, signing veterans like Kelly and Garrett Bradbury. They also drafted guard Donovan Jackson in the first round. This shows that they are fully committing to McCarthy as their future star.
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