Vikings' Night Practice Recap: McCarthy's Ups and Downs, Reichard's Comeback

J.J. McCarthy: Ups and Downs in the Practice

The Vikings held their annual night practice at TCO Stadium on Monday night, drawing a large crowd of fans clad in purple on a pleasant evening in Eagan. While there weren't many standout moments during the more than an hour of competitive drills, there were plenty of observations to take away from the session.

J.J. McCarthy, the team's young starting quarterback wearing the red No. 9 jersey, was once again the center of attention. After delivering an impressive performance in Saturday’s practice, McCarthy had a more inconsistent showing on Monday.

During the 7-on-7 period, McCarthy started strong, connecting with Jalen Nailor multiple times, including a precise throw over the middle for a significant gain. He also completed a pass to Jordan Addison on the right sideline. The only incompletion came when Nailor dropped a pass.

As the practice moved into 11-on-11 action, McCarthy and the offense struggled against the Vikings’ defense, which has been performing well throughout training camp. McCarthy managed one notable play where he stepped up in the pocket and found Josh Oliver in a tight window. However, he missed on a couple of key passes to Addison.

A recurring theme for McCarthy (and other quarterbacks) was being under pressure in the pocket. Without Jonathan Allen, who had a rest day, and with the offensive line missing Christian Darrisaw and Ryan Kelly, McCarthy frequently had to move around in the pocket, either checking down or scrambling.

On one play, McCarthy stumbled in the end zone and scrambled, which could have resulted in a safety in a real game. He was under pressure again on the next snap, sailing a pass high that Byron Murphy Jr. barely touched but couldn’t catch. After a false start, McCarthy and Oliver failed to connect on a short pass.

In the next segment, designed for moving the ball in the middle of the field, McCarthy’s four dropback reps included a couple of checkdowns to Jordan Mason and some scrambles. During a red zone period, he took a sack and threw an incomplete pass before finishing with two positive plays: a near-touchdown scramble and a running completion to Addison for a touchdown.

It’s important to consider the context—McCarthy was playing without two starting offensive linemen and two of his top three receivers. Given the pressure, it's challenging to determine how much of the offense’s struggles were due to McCarthy versus the offensive line or pass-catchers. He was also facing a strong Brian Flores defense. Despite this, the first-team offense didn’t perform as well as expected through the air.

One thing to note is that McCarthy looks quick and athletic when he decides to run. He has shown improved mobility, especially with his now-healthy knee. His college career saw him rush for over 500 yards in two seasons, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he becomes the first Viking QB to exceed 260 rushing yards since Daunte Culpepper in 2004. This ability to scramble will likely become a valuable tool for him.

Will Reichard Bounces Back

Will Reichard, who had a shaky start to training camp by missing a few kicks inside 40 yards on Saturday, had a strong performance on Monday night. He successfully kicked from 40 yards to conclude a situational drill for Max Brosmer and the third-team offense. Reichard then drilled five more kicks, finishing 6 for 6 from distances ranging from 40 to 51 yards. This marked the fourth time he had kicked in camp and the first time he didn’t miss. He now has 19 successful kicks out of 24, which is an improvement over his previous 13 of 18.

Other Observations

Several starters were absent due to injuries, including Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Christian Darrisaw, Ryan Kelly, and Metellus. Jonathan Allen and Harrison Smith also took rest days, providing opportunities for players further down the depth chart. Michael Jurgens, Jay Ward, and Jalen Redmond stood out, with Redmond having a strong practice. Rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins also made a positive impression.

Javon Hargrave dominated Donovan Jackson in back-to-back 1-on-1 reps, showcasing his strength and potential. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason both had notable gains on the ground, with Jones standing out. Kevin O'Connell may rely heavily on the running back tandem to reduce pressure on McCarthy. It would be surprising if this season ends up being the lowest passing percentage of O'Connell’s tenure.

Sam Howell and Brett Rypien didn’t do much to address concerns about the Vikings’ quarterback depth. Neither had a strong night, even though they managed a few good throws. Pressure was a constant factor for all quarterbacks.

Two interceptions occurred during the practice, but neither was thrown by the quarterback. Brosmer’s pass deflected off Dontae Fleming’s hands into Mishael Powell’s possession, and Rypien’s short pass to Zavier Scott bounced off the running back’s hands for a Ward interception.

The Vikings have an off day on Tuesday.