Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell drops surprising take on JJ McCarthy while Sam Darnold's status remains uncertain

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell sparked buzz with his optimistic assessment of rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy's recovery from knee surgery. His comments can raise eyebrows, especially given Sam Darnold's uncertain future with the team

O'Connell, who led the Vikings to the playoffs in 2024, faces a pivotal decision at quarterback. JJ McCarthy, the team's 10th overall pick in 2024, missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus. Darnold, meanwhile, delivered career-high numbers but struggled in season-ending losses.

During Thursday's end-of-season press conference, O'Connell addressed JJ McCarthy's progress and the team's quarterback situation for 2025. His remarks painted an encouraging picture of the young quarterback's development;

"I'm very excited about where J.J.'s at. He's returned to on-field training, he's returned to being right where we hoped he would be at this point to have the type of offseason to answer that question," O'Connell said. "I think he maximized what this year was for him, I think he has a level of comfort in our offensive system."

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JJ McCarthy's return to training comes at a crucial time. The Vikings must decide whether to retain Darnold, who posted 4,318 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024. However, his performance dipped in losses to the Lions and Rams, complicating his free agency value.

GM backs JJ McCarthy's progress

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Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah reinforced O'Connell's positive outlook on McCarthy;

"I was in there, and he was in there doing cool quarterback things. You talk about a kid who is obsessed with football and loves being around the game. We're excited about what we have in him," Adofo-Mensah said on Thursday.

The Vikings face a February 18 deadline to decide on using their franchise tag on Darnold. The tag would cost over $40 million, a steep price considering McCarthy's presence. Darnold ranked fifth in passing yards and sixth in yards per attempt during the regular season.

The quarterback puzzle presents multiple paths forward. McCarthy's rookie contract runs through 2027 with a fifth-year option for 2028. Darnold enters free agency at age 28, likely commanding a significant raise despite his late-season struggles. The Vikings must balance McCarthy's development timeline against the cost of retaining Darnold.