Former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy made his highly anticipated return to the NFL during a preseason game on Saturday, marking his first appearance in 364 days. McCarthy, who was selected as the 10th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft, faced a challenging rookie season after suffering a knee injury in his initial preseason game last year. However, he showcased his resilience and skill during the Vikings' 20-10 victory over the Houston Texans.
Although McCarthy only participated in the team’s opening possession, he made an impressive impact by leading a 13-play scoring drive that culminated in a 48-yard field goal. Reflecting on his return to live action after nearly a year, McCarthy expressed his emotions, stating, “Unbelievable. Had a little tear drop, not going to lie, being out there right before the National Anthem. This game is the best game in the world, and to be out there with this kind of group and this coaching staff, it was absolutely terrific.”
The Illinois native, who boasts an impressive record of 27-1 as a starter at Michigan, completed 4 of 7 passes for a total of 30 yards against the Texans. He also demonstrated his athleticism by testing his knee on a crucial fourth-and-4, scrambling for an 8-yard gain to keep the drive alive. As the frontrunner to become the starting quarterback for the Vikings, McCarthy is stepping into a significant role following the departure of last year’s starter, Sam Darnold, who recently signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.
“I was kind of getting a little emotional last night,” McCarthy shared about his feelings leading up to the game. “The journey that any injured player goes on to be back out there, doing the thing that they love, it was really special, for sure. You’re in the moment day-to-day for so long, especially during the rehab process, and finally get to the point where it’s like, ‘Wow, this is my second game,’ and I felt like I played the whole season.”
As the preseason continues, fans and analysts are eager to see how much playing time McCarthy will receive. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell praised McCarthy’s performance, noting, “I thought he did a really, really nice job. I would have loved to play him all day long but wanted to have him in there with some of the guys he’s going to be in there with. We did not want to play that full group very long with such significant work coming up in joint practices with New England on Wednesday and Thursday.”
With continued progress in his performance, J.J. McCarthy is poised to make an impactful debut season in the NFL, further establishing his reputation as a promising young quarterback. As he navigates through the preseason, fans will be watching closely to see how he develops and secures his position with the Minnesota Vikings.
