Those Close to JJ McCarthy are 100% Confident He’ll be Ready for Vikings Season

Live from Minnesota: Vikings Face Crucial QB Decision Ahead of 2025 Season

The Minnesota Vikings have some massive decisions looming as they shape their roster for the 2025 NFL season, and no issue is bigger than who will be under center when Week 1 arrives. Will they entrust their future to JJ McCarthy, or will they look to bring Sam Darnold back for another run?

It’s not as simple as picking a name out of a hat. The Vikings must weigh Darnold’s price tag—how much will he command, and for how long? At the same time, head coach Kevin O’Connell needs to determine whether he’s ready to hand the offense over to McCarthy, a young QB with undeniable potential but limited NFL experience.

JJ McCarthy’s Health: On Track for 2025?

Before the Vikings can make any definitive decisions, they need to ensure that JJ McCarthy is physically ready. The 2024 No. 10 overall pick has been working his way back to full strength, and according to Darren “Doogie” Wolfson of SKOR North and KSTP, his camp is 100% confident he’ll be good to go by September.

Wolfson: “All signs point to JJ McCarthy being okay. Those close to him will tell you, yes, [we have] every reason to believe he will be good to go come September.”

McCarthy has already resumed on-field activities, which is an encouraging sign, but there’s still some work to do—especially in the weight room.

Wolfson: “He needs to add some weight, he looks skinny. The last time we saw him, that TV shot on the sidelines in Week 18 at Ford Field, we were like, ‘Oh, he looks almost too skinny.’”

Mackey: “It won’t take him six months to put that weight back on.”

Wolfson: “There’s work to be done in the weight room. Even since then, like in the last three or four weeks, he’s been building back up. I’m just telling you, those close to JJ are 100% convinced he will be fine. He will be good to go come September.”

Will ‘Ready’ Be Enough for the Vikings?

Even if JJ McCarthy is medically cleared by Week 1, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s fully prepared to take over the offense. Has he participated in the entire training camp? Will he be able to play in preseason games? And what about the crucial offseason workouts? Those questions remain unanswered.

Meanwhile, the Sam Darnold situation is still up in the air. If the Vikings decide to keep him around, they must act fast—NFL teams can start designating franchise tags on February 18, and the deadline to use the tag is March 4 at 3 PM CT.

For now, the Minnesota Vikings have a franchise-altering decision to make. Do they roll the dice on McCarthy, or do they keep a veteran presence in Darnold? Stay tuned—this QB battle is far from over.

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