The Minnesota Vikings head into the 2025 NFL season with a quarterback looking to prove himself after an unfortunate start to his professional career in 2024.
J.J. McCarthy, the former Michigan QB and 2023-24 national champion with the Wolverines, takes over for good after a torn meniscus to his right knee in the 2024 preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders sidelined him for the entirety of his rookie season.
He made his first start of the 2025 preseason in the team’s Week 1 game against the Houston Texans, completing four of his seven pass attempts for 30 yards in limited action.
Despite the lack of playing time in the NFL and doubts about him being counted on to throw the ball more than he was used to at Michigan, ESPN analyst and former safety and executive Louis Riddick does not have any concern about McCarthy’s ability.
“People are so hesitant and scared to want to project when it comes to football players,” Riddick said during a Wednesday appearance on “Get Up.” … “So for him, when people say look, he’s never had to throw the ball more than 15, 20 times a game when he was at Michigan. Look, I think you can drop him back 25, 30 times. J.J. McCarthy is wired to do that. And when they asked him do it at Michigan, he was just fine at doing it. I think we kind of short change people until we see that they actually put pen to paper so to speak, and we’re so reluctant to project. Not me. I am all in on this kid.”
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