J.J. McCarthy’s rookie campaign hasn’t exactly lit up the league, but make no mistake-there’s a growing sense in Minnesota that the Vikings may have found their quarterback of the future. Before a hand injury sidelined him last weekend, McCarthy had started to put things together, stringing together the two best performances of his young career and showing the kind of poise and growth that gets coaches and front offices excited.
At just 22 years old, McCarthy is still early in his NFL journey. There’s a long road ahead before we can start talking about him as a star, but the flashes are there.
The arm talent, the mobility, the command of the offense-they’ve all shown up in spurts. And that’s more than enough to keep Vikings fans hopeful, especially after what they saw on Christmas Day.
With McCarthy out, Minnesota turned to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who stepped in against the Detroit Lions and, against all odds, helped engineer a 23-10 upset that knocked Detroit out of playoff contention. It wasn’t pretty-far from it-but it was a win. And in December, especially for a team still trying to find its identity, that counts for something.
Brosmer’s stat line told the story of a quarterback still adjusting to the NFL stage. He completed just nine passes for 51 yards, and the Vikings leaned heavily on the ground game, with Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones each finding the end zone on rushing scores.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell clearly kept the game plan conservative, and that was probably the right call. Brosmer’s previous outings included a four-interception debut against the Seahawks and a shaky performance against the Giants-a team currently tied for the worst record in the league.
It's been a tough stretch for Brosmer, who’s undoubtedly living out a dream by suiting up for the hometown team. But the NFL is an unforgiving place for quarterbacks, and he’s learned that lesson the hard way. While there’s something undeniably cool about a local kid getting his shot, the reality is that Brosmer’s limitations have only underscored McCarthy’s value to this team.
Earlier in the season, the Vikings got by with Carson Wentz under center. He was serviceable, if unspectacular. But Brosmer’s struggles have made it clear: McCarthy gives Minnesota the best chance to compete-not just now, but moving forward.
The challenge, of course, is keeping him on the field. McCarthy missed all of last season with a torn meniscus and has been limited to just nine games this year due to a series of injuries.
That’s the biggest hurdle standing between him and long-term success. The tools are there.
The mental makeup is there. The question is whether his body can hold up to the grind of an NFL season.
But if there was ever any doubt about who the Vikings should be building around, Christmas Day put that to rest. Even in a win, the offense sputtered without McCarthy. And while the defense, led by Brian Flores, deserves all the credit for forcing six turnovers and completely flustering Dan Campbell’s Lions, the difference under center was impossible to ignore.
McCarthy’s not a finished product. He’s not a Pro Bowler yet.
But he’s shown enough to earn the trust of his coaches, the respect of his teammates, and the belief of a fan base that’s been searching for a long-term answer at quarterback. And if he can stay healthy, the Vikings might just have something special on their hands.