The Michigan product completed 11/17 of his throws for 188 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 116.8. He did throw an interception on his first drive but didn’t shy away from airing the ball out after it.
McCarthy’s performance was raved by star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and the Vikings fans loved it. They expressed their excitement via posts on X, and here are some of the best reactions to the rookie’s performance:
i’ve seen enough he’s the best qb ever https://t.co/QaXqCiYYnt
— ْ (@khlgrs) August 10, 2024
“Yeah we going to the super bowl”, said one fan
“League is in SHAMBLES”, said another
BEST ROOKIE QB 🔥🔥🔥
— J 🐳 (@216chels) August 10, 2024
“We’re so unbelievably back”, wrote one user on X
“We can see who JJETTA wants to start.”, said another while referencing Justin Jefferson’s excitement
Nobody knows who will be the starting quarterback for the Vikings in Week 1, but based on Jefferson’s reaction, he loves the quarterback that the franchise has drafted to replace Kirk Cousins. This is a positive sign for the future even if Sam Darnold gets the nod to be the starting quarterback.
J.J. McCarthy and Vikings season preview
As mentioned earlier, J.J. McCarthy is not guaranteed to start in Week 1 for the Vikings. Sam Darnold is expected to be handed the job, but if the former 49ers quarterback doesn’t play well, the rookie might be considered fairly quickly.
Justin Jefferson and the Vikings have been successful with Kirk Cousins as their quarterback, but now that the latter has signed with the Atlanta Falcons, the NFC North franchise could take a step back.
McCarthy will eventually be the Vikings starting quarterback, but the team might be cautious in rushing him to the field. They drafted him in the first round, but head coach Kevin O’Connell might look to sit him down and work behind the scenes to focus on his development and decrease the pressure.
J.J. McCarthy won the National Championship with Michigan before declaring for the draft. He played 42 games across three years in college and threw for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
