Vikings minicamp: QB J.J. McCarthy continuing to work on touch, layering passes

New York Times

20 hours ago

EAGAN, Minn. — Kevin O'Connell described the last few weeks of Minnesota Vikings practices as a de facto passing camp. There are few meaningful reps for players in the trenches and minimal opportunities for honest evaluation. Growth was the primary focus.
That said, certain moments stood out, such as the seven-on-seven drills at full speed. So, beyond the obvious names, who impressed?
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Here are some thoughts after Thursday's last full-scale workout of minicamp:
1. We'll start with quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The 22-year-old concluded his spring with an efficient day. McCarthy frequently refrained from throwing the ball into contested windows, choosing instead to complete underneath checkdowns against nontraditional defensive looks. He completed an out route to receiver Justin Jefferson. Running back Aaron Jones caught a pass over the middle of the field. A few of McCarthy's throws resulted in high-fives from quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.
O'Connell complimented McCarthy in two respects after practice. First, McCarthy displayed a willingness this spring to experiment with throws, especially layered passes requiring touch. Second, he embraced the self-criticism that must come with his role as the expected starter.
'He can't be too hard on himself,' O'Connell said, 'but at the same time, what is your standard to get not where you are now, but where you want to go?'
LIVE: @jjmccarthy09 talks to the media at minicamp https://t.co/YbaFTTSQ0H
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 12, 2025
McCarthy made some notable mistakes. Last week, he layered a pass toward the left sideline, and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers undercut it for an interception. Wednesday, a McCarthy attempt toward the right sideline was snatched by cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. The ability to arc passes toward the sidelines remains a key skill for McCarthy to master. Even he acknowledged Thursday that when it comes to his maturation as a pure thrower, adding multiple lofts and angles to his arsenal is a priority. At Michigan, he said, he was mostly a 'one-speed pitch kind of guy.'
Compared with last spring, he not only attempted more of these different throws, but he also consistently released passes from a solid base. The Vikings staff never questioned McCarthy's sheer arm strength. His current teammates understand the initial evaluation.
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'He can let it rip, for sure,' Jefferson said. 'That's definitely the thing about him. He has a very strong arm. The velocity of the ball and the spin on the ball — he has a tight spin.'
General accuracy hasn't been an issue, either. The throwing process itself won't consume the coaching staff as it plans for training camp. More than anything else, the question now is how well he can apply his year-plus knowledge of the system on the fly when the intensity ratchets up, when the ramifications of each throw are amplified. The collective hope is that the way this spring was structured will help.
'They've pushed the limits on what I can handle,' McCarthy said. 'That's what I ask for. I'd rather sweat in training and limit the bleeding on the battlefield when we get there.'
2. The Vikings have given contract extensions to two key contributors this offseason. Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel inked a new deal at the end of April, and tight end Josh Oliver signed his new contract this week. Both seemed like obvious candidates considering their contract statuses.
Another player in a similar situation? Josh Metellus.
The cerebral defender didn't miss minicamp but didn't participate fully. Metellus monitored seven-on-seven reps from the sideline. Youngster Jay Ward, whom we'll get to later, admirably filled many of Metellus' many duties: safety, linebacker, slot defender, etc.
Metellus' situation is fascinating. The 27-year-old's contract is set to void after the 2025 season. He loves Minnesota, and the Vikings value both his on-field skills and influence in the locker room. Last year, defensive coordinator Brian Flores said, 'Josh is as valuable a player on the roster as we have.'
But what does that mean from a financial perspective? Metellus just witnessed longtime teammate Cam Bynum earn $60 million over four years on the open market. The two players are close in age and have played an analogous number of snaps. Does Metellus think he deserves a similar deal? If so, would the Vikings — who didn't budge on their appraisal of Bynum's value — be willing to go that far, especially for a player (they might argue) without a true position?
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Eventually, this might come down to leverage. How willing will Metellus be to miss training camp practices? And how important do the Vikings feel Metellus is to what they want to accomplish in 2025? The mutual admiration might bridge the gap, but Bynum's strategy might also weigh heavily in the overall calculus.
3. Earlier this week, one reporter asked Byron Murphy Jr. about the team's newly added cornerbacks, specifically Isaiah Rodgers. 'That's my best friend already,' Murphy said. 'That's my dog.'
They're already hard to delineate on the field because of their size and play-making ability. Flores has followed Rodgers for several years. When the Vikings' personnel staff scoured the cornerback options for 2025, Rodgers' name surfaced and they found a match. O'Connell and even Jefferson have spoken positively about the impression he has made. Another addition, Jeff Okudah, received praise from teammates, too.
What's notable about this is what it means regarding available cornerback options such as Jalen Ramsey and Jaire Alexander. In time, Minnesota might seek depth at the position. That time might not be just yet, especially if the price remains high.
The other consideration as far as any potential addition goes, whether at cornerback or another position, is the impact he would have on locker room chemistry. Minnesota's brass spends significant energy thinking about the team dynamic. The decision-makers believe it's one of the ingredients to their success in recent years. Bringing another player into this mix at this point requires a layered approval.
4. The biggest surprise of minicamp? Christian Darrisaw's presence takes the cake.
Fewer than eight months removed from his torn ACL and MCL, the left tackle took part in drills. Where does that leave him as far as his return date? O'Connell hasn't provided a timeline, nor would he confirm that Darrisaw's participation means his return will come sooner than expected. O'Connell did, though, rave about Darrisaw's mindset through recovery.
'He's been phenomenal,' O'Connell said.
CD!!!@chrisdarrisaw71 has returned to practice for individual drills. pic.twitter.com/6aEWWmi6lB
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 10, 2025
The team believed swing tackle Justin Skule could hold down the fort if need be, but Darrisaw's activity at this point means all eyes will be attentive to his level of engagement come training camp. Tight end T.J. Hockenson needed about 11 months to return from his torn ACL suffered at the end of 2023. Eleven months from Darrisaw's injury is September.
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5. Whittling down the roster in training camp won't be easy. Receiver, tight end, offensive line, cornerback, defensive line, linebacker and cornerback all contain plenty of talent worthy of 53-man roster spots.
Two undrafted players, specifically, staked their claims in the last month: cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn and receiver/returner Silas Bolden. Vaughn consistently positioned himself near the ball and reacted comfortably in coverage. He even mixed in Thursday with the starters. Bolden, meanwhile, caught most of the passes directed his way and fielded both kicks and punts. Vaughn might be competing with former undrafted corner Dwight McGlothern, and Bolden's skills might be juxtaposed alongside Rondale Moore, who has yet to fully join in the practice mix.
In the return phase, the Vikings also tested two other newcomers. Rodgers returned kicks in Indianapolis and even housed one in 2020. He glided through blockers, and Jefferson mentioned the impact he could make in the phase. Third-round receiver Tai Felton also worked with the return group alongside fellow wideout Jalen Nailor.
6. Some final nuggets:
• Veteran quarterback Sam Howell, whom the Vikings acquired during the draft, completed his best pass in a Vikings uniform Thursday: a deep corner route to Felton. He has zero trouble applying trajectory to passes, but his decision-making will continue to be the key question.
• Former University of Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer received a couple of reps each day and appeared comfortable. His arm strength pales in comparison with McCarthy's, but he typically got rid of the ball in rhythm.
'Max is as smart as any young player that I've been around,' O'Connell said Thursday.
• Second-year edge rusher Dallas Turner strengthened his lower half this offseason. The Vikings positioned him off the ball in lots of reps this spring. His versatility adds to the potential spots he can play this fall.
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• Jefferson asked third-year receiver Jordan Addison to work out with him in Miami over the next five weeks. Their relationship appears to be even closer than it has been in previous seasons.
'He's like lil bro,' Jefferson said Thursday.
• Third-year safety Jay Ward is one of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's forgotten draft picks. Ward hasn't done much on special teams as a pro, but his secondary play this week stood out. He reacted quickly from depth and showed more confidence than in the past couple of seasons.