McCarthy shines at Vikings training camp day 4

J.J. McCarthy Shines in Training Camp Performance

For the first time this year, Vikings fans gathered at the TCO Performance Center on a hot Saturday afternoon to witness their team's training camp activities. The excitement was palpable as fans braved the heat to see their favorite players in action. Among the standout performers was 22-year-old quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is seen as a key figure in the franchise's future.

On the fourth day of training camp and the third full-speed practice, McCarthy delivered his best performance yet. One of the highlights was a deep pass to Jordan Addison late in the session. The throw was accurate and well-placed, drawing cheers from the crowd and sparking a celebration from McCarthy. This successful play showcased his ability to read the defense and make precise throws under pressure.

McCarthy had previously attempted a deep ball, which came after he got the defense to jump offside, giving him a free play to work with. Although the first attempt didn’t result in a completion, it was a good sign for McCarthy. Later, he connected with Addison on a second deep attempt, hitting him in stride over the top of the second-team defense for a 60-yard touchdown.

In an earlier 7-on-7 red zone period, McCarthy showed his accuracy by completing three out of five passes, including three touchdowns. He started with a score to Aaron Jones in the flat, followed by a touchdown to Jalen Nailor towards the left sideline. Another attempt resulted in a catchable ball that Nailor couldn't come down with, but McCarthy capped off the period with a touchdown to T.J. Hockenson.

Another notable aspect of McCarthy’s performance was his ability to layer the ball over the first level of the defense with touch. While his arm talent is evident, he has been focusing on improving his offspeed pitches during the offseason. He demonstrated this skill with a layered throw to Nailor early in the session and another anticipatory throw to Hockenson over the middle.

Despite these successes, McCarthy wasn’t perfect. He missed a few throws and had a couple of plays where he would have been sacked before getting to his intended reads. However, his overall performance was encouraging, especially given the heat. He commanded the huddle, showcased his arm talent, and didn’t throw a single interception. Looking ahead, McCarthy will aim to build on this momentum when pads are introduced for the first time on Monday.

Other Highlights from Practice

One of the standout defensive players was Jonathan Greenard, who made a strong impression. After a Pro Bowl season last year, Greenard continues to show his dominance. During the practice, he recorded at least two would-be sacks and two TFLs against the run. A particular sequence saw him set the edge for a run stop and then burst into the backfield for a sack on consecutive plays. His performance against both the second-team offense and the starters (without Christian Darrisaw) was impressive.

With no Justin Jefferson, the Vikings have been using a variety of receivers as the WR3 alongside Addison and Nailor. Lucky Jackson, a practice squad player in his third year with the team, received most of the looks today. He caught a couple of balls from McCarthy, including a 20-yard gain, and could be a sleeper to make the roster as a depth option.

Three members of the starting secondary were absent from team periods. Josh Metellus, who recently signed a contract extension, is dealing with a minor ankle injury and is expected to return on Monday. Harrison Smith and Isaiah Rodgers also didn’t participate, leading to Theo Jackson and Jay Ward filling in as starting safeties. Mekhi Blackmon joined Jeff Okudah and Byron Murphy at corner on the first-team defense.

Backup quarterback Sam Howell had a mixed start to camp but showed some improvement. After a shaky beginning, he put together several solid throws, connecting with Jeshaun Jones and Tim Jones for touchdowns in the red zone. While he still needs to improve, he doesn’t seem to be in jeopardy of losing his QB2 role.

Rookie quarterback Max Brosmer also had opportunities during the practice, which was the longest of camp so far. He connected with Ben Yurosek in red zone 7s and had a few completions in 11s to end the day, including a nice throw to Dontae Fleming on the final play from scrimmage.

The practice concluded with the first kicking work of camp. Will Reichard, the lone kicker on the roster, went 5 for 6, hitting from 33, 40, 45, 50, and 54 yards out. His only miss was a narrow wide left from 48 yards. Reichard’s leg power remains impressive.

After an off day on Sunday, the Vikings will return to Eagan on Monday for the first padded practice of camp.