Vikings really confident in J.J. McCarthy with critical QB decision looming

Whether the J.J.McCarthy era in Minnesota will begin in Week 1 of the 2025 season remains to be seen.

But as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said, “If that’s the course of action we decide, we’ll go in there confidently.”Adofo-Mensah fielded a slew of questions about the Vikings’ offseason plans from members of the media on Thursday.Sam Darnold is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025 while McCarthy missed the entire season due to a knee injury he suffered in preseason.“He’s on the field, throwing and training,” Adofo-Mensah said of McCarthy.

“He looks great.He’s excited … You talk about a kid who’s just obsessed with football and loves being around the game.

So, we’re excited about what we have in him.We’re excited for this offseason for him.

It’s a big offseason.And then, we’ll continue from there.“[2024 was something of] a redshirt year … but mentally, [we were] talking about how much he learned this year compared to other years in his football life [and he says it was] exponential, which you would expect for a young player in this building.”Adofo-Menssah stopped just short of declaring that the Vikings are ready to thrust the 21-year-old into the starting role.“We’re really confident in him — his work ethic, and his preparation … but I can’t sit here and tell you I know anything for certain,” Adofo-Mensah said.

“I know that I’m willing to believe in the person that we have.That position is about talent and preparation — and he’s got those things in spades.”McCarthy’s injury paved the way for Darnold to win the starting job.

With Darnold under center throughout the 2024 season, Minnesota won 14 games — the most for a Vikings team since 1998.Darnold, at times, looked so good that pundits began theorizing the team would be fielding offers on their injured rookie.That idea might have made sense before the NFC wild-card game, but with Darnold’s disastrous play in the team’s 27-9 ...